NEW YORK (AP) — Wife of New Jersey senator. Bob Menendez is seeking a postponement of his criminal trial next month, saying a newly diagnosed, serious medical problem requires “surgical intervention” within six weeks.
The request was made by his lawyers in a letter addressed to a Manhattan federal court judge who will preside over the May 6 trial of the Democrat, his wife and two New Jersey businessmen.
All four have pleaded not guilty to charges of participating in a bribery scheme in which prosecutors say money and gold bars were given to the couple in exchange for favors the senator could perform.
In their letter, Nadine Menendez’s lawyers said their client was unable to help them prepare for trial over the next four weeks due to her “medical situation.”
They wrote that he had recently been diagnosed with a health condition requiring “surgical intervention” within the next four to six weeks, as well as “possibly significant follow-up and recovery treatment.”
Lawyers have requested a hearing in two months to provide an update on his health, his treatment plan and when a trial might be possible.
Prosecutors did not immediately comment on the development.
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