Jury picked in Menendez trial

A jury has been selected for the corruption and bribery trial of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), The Associated Press reported Wednesday.

Six men and six women, as well as four alternates, were chosen to sit on the jury for the upcoming trial. The selection process began on Tuesday. 

Menendez is charged with accepting lavish gifts, political donations and costly getaways from Salomon Melgen, a Florida eye doctor, in exchange for using the power of his office to lobby on behalf of Melgen’s interests. 

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Melgen, who is a co-defendant in the corruption trial, was convicted in federal court earlier this year on separate Medicare fraud charges. His sentencing on those charges was postponed earlier this month until after he stands trial with Menendez.

The corruption and bribery trial will begin in September and is expected to last about two months, according to the AP.

Lawyers for Menendez and Melgen have denied that the gifts amount to bribery, saying they were born out of a longstanding friendship between the two men.

Menendez has also argued that his actions were part of his regular legislative duties.

If Menendez is convicted and decides to step down from his Senate seat before January, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, would be able to choose his replacement, boosting the upper chamber’s GOP majority.