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Judge declares mistrial for Menendez in corruption case

By Allen Cone
A federal judge declared a mistrial Thursday in the corruption case of Sen. Robert Menendez, R-N.J., after jurors said for the second time this week they're deadlocked. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
A federal judge declared a mistrial Thursday in the corruption case of Sen. Robert Menendez, R-N.J., after jurors said for the second time this week they're deadlocked. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Nov. 16 (UPI) -- A federal judge declared a mistrial Thursday in the corruption trial of New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez, after jurors said for the second time said they're deadlocked on all 12 counts.

District Judge William Walls made the ruling after interviewing the Newark, N.J., panel of seven women and five men in his chambers for nearly one hour.

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The jury told the judge Thursday they were unable to come up with a unanimous decision on any of the dozen charges against Menendez and co-defendant Salomon Melgen, a Florida eye doctor. They deliberated for about 14 hours over the past week.

"Nor are we willing to move away from our strong convictions," they wrote.

Walls told the jury before dismissing them: "I find that you are unable to reach a verdict and that further deliberations would be futile and that there is no alternative but to declare a mistrial."

After the judge's decision, Menendez embraced and tearfully thanked his son and daughter. He also expressed gratitude for his attorneys and fellow senators, including Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

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He also praised the jurors "who saw through the government's false claim and used their Jersey common sense to reject it."

But he criticized the FBI and the Department of Justice, saying "the way this case started was wrong. The way it was investigated was wrong. The way it was prosecuted was wrong."

The Justice Department, in a statement, said "will carefully consider next steps in this important matter and report to the court at the appropriate time," -- including whether to retry the case.

The judge initially declined the prosecutors' request to instruct jurors that they could issue a partial verdict on some counts. He said that would be "going down the slippery slope of coercion.''

On Monday, the jury foreman sent a note to the judge the 12 jurors could not reach a verdict on any of the counts. Walls told them to resume deliberations the following day.

Menendez's attorney, Abbe Lowell, asked the judge Monday to declare a mistrial. Prosecutors said the jurors should continue deliberating

The U.S. Justice Department indicted Menendez in April 2015 of illegally accepting gifts and political contributions from Melgen. Earlier this year, Melgen was found guilty on 67 counts of Medicare fraud. Nine of the charges were tossed out before the case went to jury. He's awaiting sentencing.

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If Menendez is retried and convicted, he could resign or be expelled from the Senate. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie could appoint his successor if he leaves by mid-January when his term ends and Democrat Phil Murphy takes over.

Menendez was appointed to fill the Senate seat in January 2006, and won elections later that year and in 2012.

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