Wife of Sen. Menendez requests bribery trial delay due to sudden 'serious medical condition'

Sen. Bob Menendez’s (D-NJ) and his wife, Nadine Menendez, are facing serious charges in an upcoming trial regarding their bribery-related indictments.

According to The Hill, lawyers for Nadine asked the judge presiding over the upcoming trial -- set for next month -- to request a delay based on a brand new "serious medical condition."

Conveniently, her lawyers pleaded with U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein to delay the trial after she was suddenly diagnosed with a serious condition that requires surgery within the next "four to six weeks," just as the trial is set to begin.

The Hill noted:

Her lawyers said she is unable to work with them to prepare for the trial in the next several weeks and that she would not be in the “physical or psychological condition to participate” in the trial. They also noted the full extent of her necessary medical treatment is uncertain.

The letter from her lawyers read, "Ms. Menendez was recently diagnosed with a serious medical condition that will require a surgical procedure in the next four to six weeks as well as possibly significant follow-up and recovery treatment."

Sen. Bob Menendez’s wife, Nadine Menendez, is seeking to delay her criminal trial set to begin next month due to a new “serious medical condition.” https://t.co/r17usHfYyq

— The Hill (@thehill) April 10, 2024

Stretching it out as far as possible, Nadine's lawyers asked the judge to set a date for a "status hearing" eight weeks from now to allow Nadine to provide an update on her recovery and if she's able to proceed, meaning the trial could theoretically be delayed for months.

She'll stand trial after facing 15 bribery-related charges. Her husband, Sen. Menendez, faces 16 charges.

The Hill noted:

They were indicted last September in light of allegations that they accepted more than $600,000 in bribes, including cash, gold bars, a luxury car and a mortgage on their home. The FBI found nearly $500,000 in cash and more than $100,000 in gold at Menendez’s home in a raid in 2022.

Social media users immediately cried foul on the surprise medical update, with some noting a double standard as it applies to Democrats vs. Republicans.

"Hope they denied the request. They didn't let Trump delay to attend his wife's mother's funeral. No more double standards," one X user wrote.

Another X user wrote, "These two are dirty. Why do NJ voters elect them. Stop being partisan and start voting for people that will represent you. This isn't a football game. Stop being partisan. It's deadly!!!"

Both Menendez and his wife, and two business partners who were also charged, face serious prison time if convicted on all counts.

There have been multiple calls from high-profile Democrats for Menendez to resign. So far, he has refused to do so.