OK - now verdict to be announced in US v. Menendez. Inner City Press has covered the trial; will soon publish sequel to "Gold Bar Bob 1" and will live tweet, thread below amazon.com/dp/B0D7X51R2D
As the lawyers and defendants take their places in the courtroom, Bob Menendez is leaning back in his chair, resting his arms on the chair's arms. Drum roll
[While we wait, here's front of the verdict sheet in US v. Robert Menendez, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes. There are 18 counts so this could take awhile. Drum still rolling
OK - now in US v. Menendez, after 90 minutes of jury silence, Judge Stein summons the lawyers - and Menendez, at defense table. Inner City Press is nearly done with sequel to Gold Bar Bob 1 and will live tweet, thread below amazon.com/dp/B0D7X51R2D
Judge Stein: I have a note from the jury, asking if a vote of not guilty on a single count requires unanimity... But I'll do this again when the court reporter is here...
Take 2 / re-do: Judge Stein: Does a non guilty verdict on a single count require unanimity? We'll reply, your vote must be unanimous as to each count and each defendant.
Menendez's lawyer Fee: The note does refer to defendants, only to counts...
ALERT: In US v. Miles Guo, Judge Analisa Torres just emerged to say that a juror disclosed they Googled co-defendant William Je - lawyers stared down. Expect mistrial request - and push back. Inner City Press will live tweet, thread below
Judge Torres: One of the jurors disclosed that they had Google William Je this morning.
[Guo's lawyers are standing and talking to each other; prosecutors stare down at the note]
Judge Torres: The most recent case we have found about replacing a juror is US v. David Delva, 858 F. 3d 135
Guo's lead lawyer: We dealt with this in US v. Schulte [his co-counsel was his opponent then
Schulte book, Brutal Kangaroo: amazon.com/gp/product/B0B…
OK - final jury instructions in US v Menendez then deliberations begin - Inner City Press wrote the 1st book "Gold Bar Bob 1" (sequel coming) and will live tweet today, including notes - and verdict? - thread below amazon.com/dp/B0D7X51R2D
Judge Stein: The defendant named in Counts 5 and 11 is simply Senator Menendez, no one out. You can go through the verdict sheet in any order you want, it's entirely up to you.
Judge Stein: Giving a gift to a public official to gain good will is not Federal bribery - there has to be a quid pro quo... But, the simple offer of giving can be just as much a crime as the actual giving. The payment need not be directly to the public official
OK - US v. Menendez et al final day of closings, Daibes then jury instructions and deliberations. Inner City Press is covering for sequel to Gold Bar Bob and will live tweet, thread below amazon.com/dp/B0D7X51R2D
Daibes' lawyer de Castro: ... Suarez was endorsed by the Hudson County Prosecutors Association. She was qualified... Bob tapped Sellinger. He didn't check the diversity box, sure. The lunch with Sellinger? It was also about a friend who was the victim of ID theft
Daibes' lawyer de Castro: There is no evidence Senator Menendez knew in advance about the lunch with Paul Sellinger, I mean, Phil, sorry. The government doesn't know what was discussed. They want you to assume, to speculate. There were no texts about substance
Guo's lawyer: Maybe you're active in politics because you're interested in it, even if others aren't. The way it makes us feel? That's priceless, as MasterCard used to say. You heard Ms. Reyes - she traveled to Europe to see, there were things they could offer
Guo's lawyer: Ms. Reyes scored that Formula 1 opportunity. Pretty cool, right? They bought a Lamborghini. It was bought in G Club's name. It was intended to be leased to G Club members, so they could get that thrill. That's what the records show