In
Menendez Trial
Sister Calls
Cash Cuban
Thing as Katia
Says Anton
Destructive
by
Matthew Russell Lee
SDNY COURTHOUSE,
July 1 – Amid reports of
investigation against Sen.
Robert Menendez for taking
gold bars, Inner City Press'
sources on September 21 it to
expect on Friday, September 22
an appearance in Federal court
in Manhattan by Menendez and
his wife Nadine Arslanian. This
scoop
was true.
Later a
superseder was unveiled,
including charges of bribes to
act for Qatar...
On April 11, 2024
after Nadine Menendez and then
the government asked for
delay, to July or undefined,
Judge Stein severed her case
and reaffirmed May 6, Inner
City Press thread
On Sunday night
April 14 the US wrote in again
asking for a delay to July,
six page letter on Patreon here.
But Judge Stein
told the parties to confer and
report by April 16 at 1 pm.
Then he set an April 17
conference, which Inner City
Press live tweeted and dubbed
"Berate-gate," thread
On May 13, jury
selection began - but did not
finish. Abit later, Menendez
got into an car with FOP NJ
plates.
On May 14 jury
selection continued but was
not yet completed, from the
ending, thread
Late on May 14,
the US Attorney's Office filed
opposition to slides the
defense wants to use in its
opening arguments, including
quotes from Colin Powell and
MLK, and when Nadine came into
possession of gold - full
letter on Patreon here
Inner City Press
live tweeted jury selection
and then opening arguments here,
then filmed Bob's exit (he
said he thought it went well
and that his guy did great).
On May 21, the US
Attorney's Office put on Wael
Hana's lawyer, then a US State
Department official working on
Congressional approval (or
holds) on arms transfer to
Egypt, thread here.
On May 23, with
the trial in haitus, docketed
was Menendez' lawyers
opposition to quashing his
subpoena for Jose Uribe's
attorney proffer and
communications with SDNY
prosecutors, filing on Patreon
here
On May 29, Inner
City Press live tweeted,
omitting Morton's steakhouse
but including this
On May 30,
Menendez's lawyer's (long)
cross, including this.
On May 31,
starting 1 pm, the agent was
cross examined, and then USDA
Ted McKinney on direct, thread
After the
trial day, Inner City Press
filed Menendez' walk to his
Jersey-plated car; asked why
he called McKinney he said,
Wait for the cross
[examination].
Nadine Menendez
hired a new lawyer, who
previously represented Sydney
Powell among others. Then
this: "ORDER as to Nadine
Menendez: At the request of
the defendant and with the
consent of the government
[Doc. No. 434], the status
conference is adjourned from
June 10 to June 12 at 5 :00
p.m.(Signed by Judge Sidney H.
Stein on 6/3/2024)."
On June 4 Judge
Stein dockted a partially
redacted Order in which he
denied Menendez's request that
the prosecutors give him
impeachment material about a
Confidential Human Source they
are not going to call as a
witness - but Menendez said he
will.
On June 5, Inner
City Press live tweeted - and
afterward asked Menendez a
question. Thread.
On June 6, after
more cross of Agent Graves,
Gurbir Grewal testified, thread
On June 7, after
an FBI fingerprint expert,
cooperator Jose Uribe, Inner
City Press live tweeted, thread
On June 10, Uribe
finished his direct
examination around 4 pm, then
counsel for Hana, not yet
Menendez, began cross
examination, thread.
On June 11, Uribe
was cross examined - though
not on the "strip club issue"
after which out on Worth
Street Menendez decried
Uribe's crimes. Thread
On June 12, after
the end of Uribe (including
drunk driving and the "little
bell"), US Attorney of NJ
Sellinger took the stand, thread.
On June 13, trial
day - and next day - was
canceled by Daibes calling in
with COVID: thread.
And then, book:
GOLD BAR BAR Menendez Trial I,
on Amazon here.
On June 18, after
Daibes' COVID, things resumed
with Sellinger, followed by
Matt Soliman.
On June 20,
alongside an FBI agent summary
witness, a prosecution office
witness out of order, thread.
On June 24,
Menendez's staffer Sarah Arkin
took the stand, from the thread
On June 25, Sarah
Arkin finished up, including
about upcoming job at State
Department. Then, a currency
(and money laundering) expert
from the Federal Reserve Bank
of New York. From the thread
On June 26, there
testimony about currency, and
then a jocular Armenian
jeweler, from the thread
On June 27, the
Senate Ethics Committee
director, then a cell site
expert, from the thread
On June 28, the
last US witness, on Menendez's
M&T account, and gold in
Nadine's Chase Bank safety
deposit box, thread
On July 1 the
defense case began, his and
Nadine's sisters amid a flurry
of motions, thread:
[Before jury is
brought in]
Judge
Stein: Where did you raise
this objection? Assistant US
Attorney: It's about DX 1591.
Judge: Mr. Weitzman, what's
the issue here? Menendez's
lawyer Avi Weitzman: I'm only
going to use it to refresh.
Judge: OK. It's a
banana.
Judge: I'm told
that the jury is here. How
many do you have?
AUSA: Texts
between Robert Mendenez and
Nadine sister Katia. I think
these sentences are hearsay,
and the rest is not relevant.
Judge: Let me look at
it. AUSA: In particular
the references to "I can't
believe her being with Doug
Anton while she was with me."
Menendez's lawyer
Adam Fee: It's state of mind
during the time period Judge:
.. it's verging on the soap
opera but I'm going to allow
it in. Bring the jury in
Jury entering! Judge Stein:
Jurors, the defense is under
no obligation to put on a
case. But will there be one?
Menendez' lawyer
Weitzman: The defense calls
Caridad Gonzalez... Ms.
Gonzalez: How do you know the
defendant? Caridad: My baby
brother. I am 80.
Menendez's lawyer Weitzman:
Did you brother have cash in
boxes? Caridad: Yes, in 100
dollar bills. He asked me to
bring him $500. It's a Cuban
thing.
Weitzman: Why do
you say it is a Cuban thing?
AUSA: Objection!
Judge: I'll allow
it Caridad: In Cuba they took
it Menendez's lawyer
Weitzman: When did your family
come to the US - under Fidel
Castro? Caridad: No...
Batista. My father made bow
ties. Weitzman: Why did your
family leave? Caridad: Four
police officers came to our
house, the bow tie factory in
the back Caridad: Dad
had cash stored in the bottom
of his grandfather clock.
Menendez's lawyer
Weitzman: Was Bob told about
this? Caridad: Dad - sorry, I
mean my father - told him
about it. Weitzman: What
assets was your family able to
bring to the US? Caridad:
None. Menendez's lawyer
Weitzman: Did there come a
time that Bob ran for office?
Caridad: Yes. Union City Board
of Education, then Mayor,
House of Representatives...
After Senator Jon Corzine left
office with six months to go,
he appointed Bob. Then 18
years.
Menendez's lawyer
Weitzman: You must be very
proud of your little brother.
AUSA: Objection! Judge Stein:
Sustained. The jury will
disregard the comments of the
lawyers. No matter how artful.
Weitzman: Do you
live in a buildings owned by
Bob. Caridad: Yes, as
super Menendez's lawyer
Weitzman: Have you seen video
of Bob and Nadine's wedding?
Caridad: Yes. I'm
thinking of the name of the
song... Judge: Not necessary.
Weitzman: Was the Taj Mahal
behind video you say? Caridad:
Yes [ Menendez's lawyer
Weitzman: Did there come a
time Bob had a shoulder
injury? Caridad: Yes.
Weitzman: Do you know how?
AUSA: Objection!
Judge: I'll allow
it. Caridad: On the train in
Congress, rushing to a
vote. Menendez's lawyer
Weitzman: Did other members of
your family store cash?
Caridad: Yes my aunt, in a
TV... Weitzman: You saw cash
in Bob's home? Caridad: Yes.
Weitzman: Nothing
further. Cross
examination.
AUSA Pomerantz:
You refused to meet with the
prosecutors? Caridad: I
declined. AUSA: You're family
left Cuba in 1951 - before
Fidel Castro came to power,
right? Caridad: Yes. 1958-9
AUSA: Your family wanted to
return in '59? Caridad:
Yes. AUSA: Fair to say
you love your brother?
Caridad: I do. AUSA: No
further questions. Judge:
We'll break.
They've
back. Judge: Defense, put your
next witness on the stand.
It's Nadine's sister Katia
Tabourian. Menendez's lawyer
Fee: Was Nadine married
before? Katia: Yes, for 15
years, from when she was 22.
Fee: Did she work? Katia: No.
She had two kids, grown up
now
Menendez's lawyer
Fee: How did Nadine support
herself after her first
marriage? Katia: Alimony and
child support. Our mother left
us money. Fee: Did Nadine ask
you to reach out to Bob?
Katia: Yes. She told me they
had
broken up, she
wanted me to reach out to
him Judge: When was
this? Katia: The night of the
vote on the Senator's
election, November 2018. My
sister was in an unhealthy
relationship, it created chaos
in her relationship with the
Senator. She was fed up. AUSA:
Move to strike. Judge: I'll
allow it
Menendez's lawyer
Fee: Have you ever seen the
Senator ring a bell to summon
Nadine? Katia: I've never seen
a bell at 41 Jane Drive. Fee:
Did Nadine tell you she and
Bob used the "Find My Phone"
feature? Katia: Yes. She was
afraid of her previous
relationship
Menendez's
lawyer Fee: Did Nadine lock
her closet? Katia: Yes because
she had a nanny who stole a
lot from here... I have a safe
in my home. AUSA: Objection!
Judge: Sustained. Fee: What
does Nadine keep in her safe?
Katia: Money, cash, jewelry,
gifts given to her
Menendez's lawyer
Fee: Have you see gold in
there? Katia: Yes I have. I
have these type of gold bars
too- Judge: Ma'am, there's no
question pending. Jury will
disregard.
Fee: Where was
this, that Senator Menendez's
shirts were stored? Katia: In
her daughter's room
Menendez's lawyer Fee: Is this
a photo of Senator Menendez's
office in 41 Jane Drive?
[Video light-up ring,
basketball on a shelf] Katia:
Yes. Fee: And this things
hanging down, what is it?
Katia: It keeps the evil eye
away.
Judge:
Where does her son live?
Miami Menendez's lawyer
Fee: Did Nadine ask you to
co-sign a loan? Katia: Yes,
for her house. Fee: And her
car? Katia: No. Fee: Where is
your family from? Katia:
Lebanon. Our mother lived in
Cyprus. The grandparents came
from Armenia.
Katia: My
sister Nadine got my
grandmother's gold bars.
Menendez's lawyer Fee: What
does this say? Katia: It's for
a British Bank of the Middle
East safety deposit box, in
the name of my father's rug or
carpet business. Cross
examination. AUSA Pomerantz:
You refused to speak to the
prosecutors in this case?
Katia: The FBI left me a voice
mail. I did not return the
call.
AUSA: The Lebanon
safety deposit box, that was
48 years ago? Katia: It
was. AUSA: To be clear,
Fred Daibes and Wael Hana are
not members of your family?
Katia: They are not. AUSA: And
you have no idea if the serial
numbers on the gold bars in 41
Jane Drive correspondent to
gold of Mr. Daibes and Mr.
Hana? Katia: No idea.
AUSA: Nadine did not tell you
that she she got dressed in 41
Jane Drive she made Robert
Menendez leave the room?
Katia: No. AUSA: You're not
physically with your sister
all the time? Judge:
Sustained. It's self
evident. AUSA: You don't
want to see your brother in
law in trouble, do you? Katia:
I don't. Judge: Let's break
With jury gone:
Judge Stein: Who are the next
defense witnesses? Menendez's
lawyer: Mr. Richardson, Mr.
Ganoway, a paralegal - and
then our client, that's still
under consideration
They've back
Judge: Put
the next defense witness on
the stand. Russell Richardson,
forensic accountant with
Guidepost. Menendez's lawyer:
Do you know at what hourly
rate Guidepost bills for you?
Richardson: I do not.
Menendez's lawyer: Call up the
summary chart Menendez's
lawyer: What is this
transactionRichardson: A
payment to American Express.
Menendez's lawyer: And what's
this? Richardson: An AmEx
credit card statement for
Robert Menendez. Judge
Stein has denounced the flurry
of motions as the defense
begins, calling it an abuse of
the court system.
On
Menendez, flurry of
motion has led to Tuesday
without the jury, only a
conference of the lawyers at 4
pm.
More on X for
Subscribers here
and Substack here
The case is US v.
Menendez, et al., 23-cr-490
(Stein)
More
on Substack here
***
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