A juror taking part in the bribery trial of Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., interrupted deliberations Tuesday to ask the presiding judge for the definition of a senator.
U.S. District Judge William Walls denied the juror’s request for a transcript of the closing argument from Menendez’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, in which he argued that Menendez never pushed through legislation to help a friend, per Bloomberg and CNN.
Instead, the federal judge instructed the jurors to rely on their individual and collective memories to define the role of a senator and remember important points from Lowell’s final address.
Jury deliberations began in Newark on Monday to determine whether Menendez is guilty of federal corruption charges after he was accused of taking bribes from Florida ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen in the form of campaign donations, private jet flights, and a hotel stay in Paris, France.
These bribes are alleged to have been given in exchange for Menendez’s assistance in obtaining a U.S. visa for Melgen’s girlfriend, Menendez intervening in a Medicare billing dispute on Melgen’s behalf, and Menendez trying to preserve Melgen’s interests in a Dominican Republic port.
Menendez has denied any wrongdoing.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to more accurately describe the juror’s request.
