Federal prosecutors have asked a judge to dismiss an indictment charging U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-NJ, with corruption.
The move came more than two months after Menendez’s trial on those charges ended in a mistrial when jurors deadlocked on a verdict, and just two weeks after prosecutors said they planned to retry him.
The Justice Department, in a comment Friday explaining its decision to drop the case, cited an order last week by the trial judge, who declared Menendez not guilty of seven counts in the indictment lodged against the 64-year-old
The seven charges related to alleged bribery of Menendez by Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen.
That left 11 counts pending against the senator, who is a heavy favorite to win re-election for a third term this November.
Justice officials also cited limitations placed by the judge on the evidence that would be admissible at a retrial.
Menendez, who denied all the charges, was accused of accepting favors from Melgen, which allegedly included a dozen flights on the doctor’s private jet to a resort in the Dominican Republic, a three-night stay in a pricey Paris Hotel, and more than $700,000 in political contributions to both the senator and the Democratic party.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
