Menendez jury begins deliberations in bribery trial
Menendez
Newark  New Jersey (CNN) Twelve jurors began their deliberations Monday in the federal corruption trial of  Sen. Bob Menendez and a wealthy ophthalmologist --  the outcome of which could determine the political future of the New Jersey Democrat.
"I am convinced that I will be declared not guilty  innocent of all charges "  Menendez  told reporters heading into court Monday morning.
The Justice Department's 18-count public corruption indictment accuses  the senator  of accepting over $600 000 in political contributions  free rides on a private jet  and a swanky hotel suite in Paris from Dr. Salomon Melgen.
In exchange  prosecutors say  Menendez  abused the power of  his  office by pressuring federal officials in the Obama administration and other career diplomats to help Melgen resolve a number of business disputes.
Addressing the jury in Menendez's defense  attorney Abbe Lowell told jurors that prosecutors had tried to lead them astray with distractions about beach vacations Melgen provided  but never showed any corrupt agreement.
Lowell urged jurors to focus instead on the "true  honest and lawful" 25-year friendship between Menendez and Melgen  highlighting the $1 000 wedding gift the senator gave to Melgen's daughter.
"Defendants want you to believe that friendship and bribery cannot co-exist -- that is not the law " Koski said. "The issue in this case is not whether  Sen. Menendez and Melgen were friends  -- the issue is whether  they  committed a crime together."
Koski also suggested that the defense lawyers had engaged in "sleight of hand" by suggesting Menendez was more focused on the underlying policy issues raised by Melgen's business problems and that testimony from the senator's character witnesses was unpersuasive.
Over the course of eight weeks  the seven-woman  five-man jury heard from 57 witnesses -- including FBI special agents  pilots  ambassadors and former Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius   as well as a slew of character witnesses in support of  Menendez .
Both  Menendez  and Melgen opted not to testify in  their  own defense -- a choice the judge explicitly instructed the jury to ignore as the defendants' constitutional right.
For the $660 000 in political donations Melgen is accused of making to benefit Menendez in 2012  however  Walls told the jurors they needed to find an "explicit agreement."
Newark  New Jersey (CNN) Twelve jurors began their deliberations Monday in the federal corruption trial of  Sen. Bob Menendez and a wealthy ophthalmologist --  the outcome of which could determine the political future of the New Jersey Democrat.
"I am convinced that I will be declared not guilty  innocent of all charges "  [TGT]told reporters heading into court Monday morning.
The Justice Department's 18-count public corruption indictment accuses  the senator  of accepting over $600 000 in political contributions  free rides on a private jet  and a swanky hotel suite in Paris from Dr. Salomon Melgen.
In exchange  prosecutors say  [TGT]abused the power of  [TGT]  office by pressuring federal officials in the Obama administration and other career diplomats to help Melgen resolve a number of business disputes.
Addressing the jury in [TGT]'s defense  attorney Abbe Lowell told jurors that prosecutors had tried to lead them astray with distractions about beach vacations Melgen provided  but never showed any corrupt agreement.
Lowell urged jurors to focus instead on the "true  honest and lawful" 25-year friendship between [TGT] and Melgen  highlighting the $1 000 wedding gift the senator gave to Melgen's daughter.
"Defendants want you to believe that friendship and bribery cannot co-exist -- that is not the law " Koski said. "The issue in this case is not whether  [TGT] were friends  -- the issue is whether  [TGT]  committed a crime together."
Koski also suggested that the defense lawyers had engaged in "sleight of hand" by suggesting [TGT] was more focused on the underlying policy issues raised by Melgen's business problems and that testimony from the senator's character witnesses was unpersuasive.
Over the course of eight weeks  the seven-woman  five-man jury heard from 57 witnesses -- including FBI special agents  pilots  ambassadors and former Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius   as well as a slew of character witnesses in support of  Menendez .
Both  [TGT] opted not to testify in  [TGT]  own defense -- a choice the judge explicitly instructed the jury to ignore as the defendants' constitutional right.
For the $660 000 in political donations Melgen is accused of making to benefit Menendez in 2012  however  Walls told the jurors they needed to find an "explicit agreement."