Sen. Bob Menendez’s defense began with a compelling testimony from his sister, Caridad Gonzalez, who took the stand to explain the family’s tradition of storing cash at home. Gonzalez, 80, testified that it was not unusual for Menendez to keep large sums of money at home, attributing it to their Cuban heritage. She emphasized that this practice was common among Cuban families who fled the country, fearing the loss of their hard-earned assets.
Gonzalez recounted how their parents fled Cuba in 1951, bringing only the cash they had hidden at home. She described it as a “Cuban thing,” a tradition born out of necessity and distrust of banks. This cultural context was presented to counter the prosecution’s claim that the $486,000 in cash, over $100,000 in gold bars, and a luxury car found in Menendez’s home during a 2022 raid were bribe proceeds.
Menendez, who was born in Manhattan and raised in New Jersey, has pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery, fraud, extortion, obstruction of justice, and acting as a foreign agent of Egypt. He is on trial alongside two New Jersey businessmen accused of paying him bribes for business favors. A third businessman has already pleaded guilty and testified against his co-defendants.
During her testimony, Gonzalez shared vivid memories of their family’s escape from Cuba. She described a comfortable life that was disrupted when a competitor of her father’s tie and bow tie business used his influence to ransack their home. Her father had hidden cash in a secret compartment of a grandfather clock, which went undiscovered during the raid. This experience instilled a deep-seated mistrust of banks in the family.
Gonzalez recalled how her father would often tell them, “Don’t trust the banks. If you trust the banks, you never know what can happen. So you must always have money at home.” This sentiment was echoed by other family members, including an aunt who stored $60,000 in cash in her basement, which survived a house fire.
The defense aims to use this cultural background to explain why Menendez had such large amounts of cash at home. They argue that it was a family tradition rather than evidence of bribery. Gonzalez’s testimony painted a picture of a family deeply affected by their experiences in Cuba, where they lost everything and had to start anew in America.
Menendez’s wife, Nadine, has also pleaded not guilty to charges in the case. Her trial has been postponed due to her recovery from breast cancer surgery. During the trial, a sister of Nadine Menendez testified, distancing the senator from his wife’s financial troubles. She revealed that Nadine had not disclosed her financial issues to her, except for once asking if she would co-sign a loan after defaulting on house payments.
Menendez’s lawyers argue that the senator was unaware of his wife’s financial problems and the help she received from businessmen. They claim that Nadine kept him in the dark about her money issues, which is crucial to their defense strategy.
The trial continues as the defense seeks to dismantle the prosecution’s case by providing context and cultural explanations for the cash found in Menendez’s home. Gonzalez’s testimony is a key part of this strategy, aiming to show that the family’s practice of storing cash at home is rooted in their traumatic experiences in Cuba.
As the trial progresses, the defense will likely call more witnesses to support their argument and provide further context to the jury. The outcome of the trial remains uncertain, but Gonzalez’s testimony has added a significant layer of complexity to the case.
Source: Associated Press
