Jury deliberations ongoing in US Sen. Bob Menendez's corruption trial

In a high-profile corruption trial in New York City, a jury deliberated for three hours without reaching a verdict in the case of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez. Menendez, accused of taking bribes and acting as a foreign agent for the Egyptian government, faced allegations of accepting gold, cash, and a luxury car from businessmen in exchange for carrying out corrupt acts. Prosecutors claimed Menendez interfered with criminal investigations and helped protect a business monopoly related to U.S. meat exports to Egypt. During the nine-week trial, Menendez's defense argued that the senator did nothing wrong and that the substantial amounts of gold bars and cash found at his New Jersey home were not proceeds of bribery. Two businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, were also on trial alongside Menendez. The jury received legal instructions from Judge Sidney H. Stein before beginning deliberations, considering the testimony of a businessman who implicated Menendez's wife in a luxury car exchange for influencing prosecutors. Menendez's defense presented witnesses, including his sister, who highlighted the family's history of fleeing Cuba with hidden cash in 1951 before settling in New York City. The defense contended that Menendez's practice of storing cash at home was not unusual given his background. The trial shed light on the complex allegations against the senator, with the jury set to resume deliberations on Monday morning to determine Menendez's fate in this high-stakes legal battle. The case has drawn significant attention due to the serious nature of the charges and the potential implications for Menendez's political career.