The hung jury in the bribery and corruption trial of U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez should not have come as a complete surprise to anyone who watched the case closely and understands the current state of the law in this area.
While the exchange of lavish gifts, reports of a high-flying lifestyle and allegations of extensive official acts taken by Menendez on behalf of his friend and codefendant, Dr. Salomon Melgen, all made this case seemingly ripe for prosecution, prosecutors were well aware that the law in the area of public corruption is murky and even more so after the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision involving former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell.
Click to read full article: In Menendez Trial, Jury Was Asked the Impossible: Decipher a Friendship (subscription required)