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Nadine Menendez’s trial postponed again as she recovers from breast cancer surgery
Washington — Nadine Menendez, the wife of New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, will not go on trial before August on bribery charges due to her recovery from breast cancer surgery.
On Wednesday during a status hearing, a federal judge postponed her trial date to Aug. 5. It was previously scheduled to begin July 8. Her case was separated from her husband’s because she had to undergo a mastectomy for grade 3 breast cancer.
The New Jersey Democrat revealed his wife’s cancer diagnosis days after his corruption trial began. The senator said in a statement that his wife would need “follow up surgery and possibly radiation treatment.”
In a court filing last week that asked the judge to waive her appearance at Wednesday’s hearing, Nadine Menendez’s attorney said she “recently has had invasive cancer surgery, has medical equipment implanted in her body and is in intense, chronic pain.” The judge granted the request.
The senator and his wife are accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from three New Jersey businessmen for political favors. The alleged bribes included cash, gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz convertible. Prosecutors say the couple accepted the lavish gifts in exchange for the senator helping three New Jersey businessmen and the governments of Egypt and Qatar.
Both the senator and his wife have pleaded not guilty.
Though physically absent from her husband’s trial, Nadine Menendez has been a central figure in the case. The senator’s attorneys have tried to shift the blame to his wife, arguing he was unaware of his wife’s financial challenges and dealings with the businessmen. Prosecutors have asserted the senator used his wife as a go-between with the businessmen, being “careful when he was committing crimes.”
The senator’s trial began May 13.
CBS News
Kamala Harris will speak with “60 Minutes” tomorrow. Here’s what to know for the interview.
Voters will get the chance to hear from Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday as she presents her case for why she should be president in a “60 Minutes” election special.
For decades, “60 Minutes” has featured both Republican and Democratic nominees for presidents, but this year, former President Donald Trump backed out after previously indicating he would be on the show. Correspondent Scott Pelley, who’d been set to interview Trump, will instead travel to Arizona’s Maricopa County, home to more than 60% of Arizona’s voters and a critical battleground in a key swing state.
One thing is certain about the election; with the U.S. deeply involved in both the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, whoever wins on Nov. 5 will become a wartime president.
What Harris will discuss
Israel’s war started one year ago after Hamas launched a surprise terror attack and correspondent Bill Whitaker will discuss the ongoing war with Harris.
Harris will also discuss the economy, immigration, her record as vice president and the differences between herself and Trump.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz will also appear.
Whitaker joined the Democratic ticket on the campaign trail this week to gain insight into their platform’s priorities and values, and what the candidates believe voters should know.
Why Trump pulled out of the “60 Minutes” interview
Leading up to the candidate hour, Trump, through campaign spokespeople, was the first candidate to accept the “60 Minutes” request to be interviewed for the special, according to CBS News. It had been agreed that both candidates would receive equal time during the broadcast.
Trump last sat down with 60 Minutes in 2020. He walked out during the interview with Lesley Stahl. Trump referenced the incident on Tuesday night at a Milwaukee press conference when asked about his decision not to participate in the Oct. 7 “60 Minutes” election special.
“Well, right now, I went to – they came to me and would like me to do an interview, but first I want to get an apology, because the last time I did an interview with them, if you remember, they challenged me on the computer,” Trump said. “They said the ‘laptop from hell’ was from Russia, and I said it wasn’t from Russia. It was from Hunter, and I never got an apology, so I’m sort of waiting. I’d love to do ’60 Minutes.’ I do everything.”
The Republican nominee for president emphasized that he felt he was owed an apology from “60 Minutes.”
“Let’s see if they do it. I wouldn’t mind doing 60,” Trump continued. “I’ve done ’60 Minutes’ a lot.”
In a statement on Tuesday, Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung said that Trump’s team had not agreed to an interview.
“Fake News,” Cheung said in a post on X. “60 Minutes begged for an interview, even after they were caught lying about Hunter Biden’s laptop back in 2020. There were initial discussions, but nothing was ever scheduled or locked in. They also insisted on doing live fact checking, which is unprecedented.”
Previous Trump, Harris appearances on 60 Minutes
Trump previously sat down with “60 Minutes'” Mike Wallace in 1985, Pelley in 2015 and Lesley Stahl twice in 2016, first in July of that year and then again in November of 2016. He also spoke with Stahl again in 2018 and 2020.
Harris previously sat down with Whitaker last year. She also was interviewed by Norah O’Donnell, “CBS Evening News” anchor and “60 Minutes” contributing correspondent, in 2020.
How to watch the “60 Minutes” election special
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