Sen. Menendez goes back to work 1 day after mistrial

<p>U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez has gone back to work one day after a judge declared a mistrial in the senator&rsquo;s federal bribery trial.</p>

News 12 Staff

Nov 18, 2017, 1:28 AM

Updated 2,359 days ago

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U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez has gone back to work one day after a judge declared a mistrial in the senator’s federal bribery trial.
Menendez spent the day in Hudson County urging people to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
Menendez appeared Friday alongside fellow Democrats Rep. Albio Sires and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto in West New York to rally those eligible for health coverage under former President Barack Obama's signature law. Open enrollment ends Dec. 15.
A federal judge declared a mistrial in the case against Menendez and Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen Thursday after jurors failed to reach a verdict. Prosecutors alleged Menendez helped Melgen with a Medicare billing dispute in return for lavish trips. Both men denied wrongdoing.
The senator says that the possibility of another trial does not concern him.
“I think it sends a powerful message to the government, that if after years of preparation of this case, if after years of prosecuting it, if after hundreds of agents, millions of taxpayer dollars, that the result is 10 of the 12 jurors simply said that they did not believe any of the charges, I think that's a pretty powerful message to the government,” Menendez said.
The Senate Ethics Committee says that they still plan to continue their inquiry into the senator. Menendez says that the inquiry was started years ago when his case began.
Menendez also declined Friday to say if he's seeking re-election. His political adviser says a decision is expected in the coming weeks.
The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.


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