U.S. Senator Robert Menendez stood trial in the Southern District of New York on federal charges alleging bribery and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. Prosecutors asserted that the senator accepted cash, gold bars, and other items of value in exchange for taking official actions that benefited several businessmen and, in certain instances, advanced the interests of the Egyptian government. The defense disputed the government’s characterization of the evidence, arguing that the allegations misinterpreted longstanding personal, cultural, and political conduct and failed to establish the elements of criminal intent required for conviction. After a closely watched, multi-week trial featuring extensive documentary evidence and testimony, the jury returned guilty verdicts on multiple counts.
DOAR was retained by the defense team to support pretrial and trial strategy, including conducting a two-day mock trial, assisting with juror questionnaires, performing targeted social media research, supporting jury selection, and providing graphics consulting and design and courtroom presentation support. These services were delivered in the context of a highly complex, high-profile prosecution that unfolded under intense public scrutiny and within a charged political environment. The case involved voluminous documentary and electronic evidence, multiple cooperating witnesses, and allegations spanning several years that intersected with sensitive issues of foreign policy and public office. DOAR also supported Senator Menendez in his prior federal corruption trial in 2017, which resulted in a hung jury and mistrial. Across both matters, DOAR’s work focused on helping the defense assess how intricate factual narratives and legal theories might resonate with jurors and on informing strategic decision-making throughout jury selection and trial preparation.
