Defense rests in Democratic Senator Menendez's bribery trialNEW YORK (Reuters) - The defense in Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Menendez’s federal corruption trial rested on Monday, court records showed, as a case that could have political repercussions in Washington nears an end after eight weeks of testimony. As expected, Menendez and his co-defendant, Florida ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen, declined to take the witness stand in their defense. Closing arguments were set to begin no earlier than Wednesday morning. Menendez, 63, is accused of accepting bribes from Melgen, including luxury vacations, private flights and campaign contributions, in exchange for using his political influence to help Melgen in a variety of ways. Lawyers for Menendez and Melgen have told the jury in Newark, New Jersey, that they did nothing wrong and that their actions stemmed from a close, brother-like relationship. The case could have an outsized effect on Capitol Hill, where Republicans hold a narrow 52-48 edge in the Senate. If Menendez is convicted and either resigns or is expelled before Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s term expires in January, the governor would presumably name a Republican to replace him. The Democratic candidate to succeed Christie, Phil Murphy, holds a comfortable lead in polls ahead of the state’s gubernatorial election on Nov. 7. A Republican effort to repeal former President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law failed by a single vote in the Senate in July, and the party’s pursuit of tax reform is expected to be similarly hard-fought. Defense attorneys ended their case on Monday soon after the judge overseeing the trial, William Walls, denied their request to declare a mistrial. The lawyers had argued that Walls unfairly limited the witnesses and evidence they could present to jurors. Menendez intervened with Medicare officials on Melgen’s behalf after the agency determined the doctor had overbilled it by millions of dollars, according to prosecutors. Melgen was convicted separately earlier this year in Florida of Medicare fraud, though the New Jersey jury has not heard about that case. In addition, the senator pressed U.S. officials to resolve a port dispute in the Dominican Republic involving one of Melgen’s business ventures and to issue visas for several of Melgen’s foreign girlfriends, prosecutors say. Among the witnesses who appeared for the defense were two of Menendez’s colleagues: Republican U.S. Senator Lindsay Graham and Democratic U.S. Senator Cory Booker, who is New Jersey’s other senator. Both men testified about Menendez’s good character without reference to the current charges. politicsNews
defense rests democratic senator menendez bribery trialnew york reuters the defense democratic senator bob menendez federal corruption trial rested monday court records showed case could political repercussions washington nears end eight weeks testimony as expected menendez florida ophthalmologist salmon merge declined take witness stand defense closing arguments set begin earlier wednesday morning menendez accused accepting bribes merge including luxury vacations private flights campaign contributions exchange using political influence help merge variety ways lawyers menendez merge told jury newark new jersey nothing wrong actions stemmed close relationship the case could outside effect capitol hill republicans hold narrow edge senate if menendez convicted either resigns expelled republican new jersey governor chris christie term expires january governor would presumably name republican replace the democratic candidate succeed christie phil murphy holds comfortable lead polls ahead state gubernatorial election a republican effort repeal former president barack obama signature healthcare law failed single vote senate july party pursuit tax reform expected similarly defense attorneys ended case monday soon judge overseeing trial william walls denied request declare mistral the lawyers argued walls unfairly limited witnesses evidence could present jurors menendez intervened medical officials merge behalf agency determined doctor overbilled millions dollars according prosecutors merge convicted separately earlier year florida medical fraud though new jersey jury heard case in addition senator pressed officials resolve port dispute dominican republic involving one merge business ventures issue visas several merge foreign girlfriends prosecutors say among witnesses appeared defense two menendez colleagues republican senator lindsay graham democratic senator cory booker new jersey senator both men testified menendez good character without reference current charges politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Defense rests in Democratic Senator Menendez's bribery trialNEW YORK (Reuters) - The defense in Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Menendez’s federal corruption trial rested on Monday, court records showed, as a case that could have political repercussions in Washington nears an end after eight weeks of testimony. As expected, Menendez and his co-defendant, Florida ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen, declined to take the witness stand in their defense. Closing arguments were set to begin no earlier than Wednesday morning. Menendez, 63, is accused of accepting bribes from Melgen, including luxury vacations, private flights and campaign contributions, in exchange for using his political influence to help Melgen in a variety of ways. Lawyers for Menendez and Melgen have told the jury in Newark, New Jersey, that they did nothing wrong and that their actions stemmed from a close, brother-like relationship. The case could have an outsized effect on Capitol Hill, where Republicans hold a narrow 52-48 edge in the Senate. If Menendez is convicted and either resigns or is expelled before Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s term expires in January, the governor would presumably name a Republican to replace him. The Democratic candidate to succeed Christie, Phil Murphy, holds a comfortable lead in polls ahead of the state’s gubernatorial election on Nov. 7. A Republican effort to repeal former President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law failed by a single vote in the Senate in July, and the party’s pursuit of tax reform is expected to be similarly hard-fought. Defense attorneys ended their case on Monday soon after the judge overseeing the trial, William Walls, denied their request to declare a mistrial. The lawyers had argued that Walls unfairly limited the witnesses and evidence they could present to jurors. Menendez intervened with Medicare officials on Melgen’s behalf after the agency determined the doctor had overbilled it by millions of dollars, according to prosecutors. Melgen was convicted separately earlier this year in Florida of Medicare fraud, though the New Jersey jury has not heard about that case. In addition, the senator pressed U.S. officials to resolve a port dispute in the Dominican Republic involving one of Melgen’s business ventures and to issue visas for several of Melgen’s foreign girlfriends, prosecutors say. Among the witnesses who appeared for the defense were two of Menendez’s colleagues: Republican U.S. Senator Lindsay Graham and Democratic U.S. Senator Cory Booker, who is New Jersey’s other senator. Both men testified about Menendez’s good character without reference to the current charges. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: defense rests democratic senator menendez bribery trialnew york reuters the defense democratic senator bob menendez federal corruption trial rested monday court records showed case could political repercussions washington nears end eight weeks testimony as expected menendez florida ophthalmologist salmon merge declined take witness stand defense closing arguments set begin earlier wednesday morning menendez accused accepting bribes merge including luxury vacations private flights campaign contributions exchange using political influence help merge variety ways lawyers menendez merge told jury newark new jersey nothing wrong actions stemmed close relationship the case could outside effect capitol hill republicans hold narrow edge senate if menendez convicted either resigns expelled republican new jersey governor chris christie term expires january governor would presumably name republican replace the democratic candidate succeed christie phil murphy holds comfortable lead polls ahead state gubernatorial election a republican effort repeal former president barack obama signature healthcare law failed single vote senate july party pursuit tax reform expected similarly defense attorneys ended case monday soon judge overseeing trial william walls denied request declare mistral the lawyers argued walls unfairly limited witnesses evidence could present jurors menendez intervened medical officials merge behalf agency determined doctor overbilled millions dollars according prosecutors merge convicted separately earlier year florida medical fraud though new jersey jury heard case in addition senator pressed officials resolve port dispute dominican republic involving one merge business ventures issue visas several merge foreign girlfriends prosecutors say among witnesses appeared defense two menendez colleagues republican senator lindsay graham democratic senator cory booker new jersey senator both men testified menendez good character without reference current charges politicsnews