Jury deadlocks on all 12 corruption charges against Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez
A federal jury is deadlocked on all 12 corruption-related charges against Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), CNN reports. Menendez allegedly did government favors for Florida ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen for years in return for lavish presents, including a luxury suite in Paris, flights on a private plane, and thousands of dollars in donations. Menendez and Melgen deny the charges, saying they are just close friends.
Last week, a juror excused from the trial said she would have found Menendez "not guilty on every charge" and she predicted the jurors would be unable to resolve disagreements on the case. Judge William Walls reportedly ordered the jury to go home Monday and "clear their heads," with the group required to return Tuesday morning. "Jurors' struggle to reach a unanimous decision could signal a potential mistrial down the line, a fitting coda for a trial with often conflicting, muddled testimony," writes CNN.
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