On Tuesday, a federal jury found Senator Bob Menendez guilty on all 16 counts of criminal charges in his bribery trial. In an article for The Washington Post, litigation & enforcement partner Brian Blais commented on the outcome and prospects for appeal.
"The senator’s appeal would be an uphill battle… because of the strength of the evidence in the trial and because the Supreme Court continues to recognize that core, straightforward bribery is what’s proscribed by the statute," said Brian.
Brian drew from his prior experience as a former federal prosecutor and discussed jury outlook. He also spoke with CBS News about the verdict, noting that "Menendez's empty-chair defense failed in pretty spectacular fashion" given the quick jury verdict.
"Less than an hour on each count" showed that "the jury views this as a relatively open and shut case," Brian said.
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