1 00:00:01,100 --> 00:00:03,233 AMNA NAWAZ: Jury selection began today, 2 00:00:03,233 --> 00:00:07,300 as Democratic Senator Bob Menendez is set to become the first sitting senator ever tried 3 00:00:09,300 --> 00:00:12,800 for conspiracy to act as a foreign agent. The case is expected to last several weeks. 4 00:00:13,866 --> 00:00:16,733 Lisa Desjardins previews what's to come. 5 00:00:16,733 --> 00:00:20,400 LISA DESJARDINS: In Manhattan today, a powerful New Jersey senator arrived to 6 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:25,200 face everyday New Yorkers who will decide his fate. The start of jury selection is 7 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:29,933 the start of Democrat Bob Menendez's second bribery trial in seven years. 8 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,666 The senior senator was accustomed to calling the shots from his perch atop 9 00:00:35,666 --> 00:00:38,433 the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He stepped down as 10 00:00:38,433 --> 00:00:43,400 chair when charges came last fall. But Menendez refuses to resign from office. 11 00:00:45,666 --> 00:00:49,033 SEN. ROBERT MENENDEZ (D-NJ): I recognize this will be the biggest fight yet, but, as I have 12 00:00:49,033 --> 00:00:54,000 stated throughout this whole process, I firmly believe that, when all the facts are presented, 13 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:59,700 not only will I be exonerated, but I still will be the New Jersey's senior senator. 14 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:03,766 LISA DESJARDINS: The lawmaker is charged with becoming a lawbreaker, accused of 15 00:01:03,766 --> 00:01:08,633 taking bribes to help individual businessmen, as well as Egypt and Qatar, and then greasing 16 00:01:10,700 --> 00:01:13,866 billions in weapons and other deals, passing along information and pressuring officials. 17 00:01:13,866 --> 00:01:16,233 DAMIAN WILLIAMS, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of New York: My office remains firmly committed 18 00:01:16,233 --> 00:01:20,700 to rooting out public corruption without fear or favor and without any regard to partisan politics. 19 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:25,700 LISA DESJARDINS: Prosecutors say they found what Menendez and his wife got in exchange, 20 00:01:25,700 --> 00:01:28,400 a Mercedes convertible and, inside their house, 21 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:33,400 gold bars worth 100 grand and wads totaling more than $480,000 in cash. 22 00:01:35,533 --> 00:01:37,633 Menendez offered this explanation. 23 00:01:37,633 --> 00:01:41,666 SEN. ROBERT MENENDEZ: For 30 years, I have withdrawn thousands of dollars 24 00:01:41,666 --> 00:01:46,266 in cash from my personal savings account, which I have kept for 25 00:01:46,266 --> 00:01:51,233 emergencies and because of the history of my family facing confiscation in Cuba. 26 00:01:53,333 --> 00:01:55,466 LISA DESJARDINS: Prosecutors paint Menendez's wife, Nadine, as a critical go-between, 27 00:01:55,466 --> 00:02:00,333 but Menendez's court filings have hinted he may try to pin all the blame on her. 28 00:02:00,333 --> 00:02:02,466 Her trial is set for July. 29 00:02:02,466 --> 00:02:07,033 Two businessmen charged will be tried alongside the senator. All four defendants have pleaded 30 00:02:07,033 --> 00:02:12,033 not guilty. They may have been friends, but Menendez to stress they were also constituents. 31 00:02:14,433 --> 00:02:16,533 JONATHAN SALANT, Former Washington Correspondent, NJ Advance Media: You cannot prosecute a lawmaker 32 00:02:16,533 --> 00:02:19,733 for talking on the floor and for acting as a lawmaker, including helping constituents. 33 00:02:21,733 --> 00:02:23,866 LISA DESJARDINS: Jonathan Salant covered Menendez as the Washington correspondent 34 00:02:23,866 --> 00:02:27,833 for a group of New Jersey papers for nearly a decade, including the senator's last trial. 35 00:02:29,566 --> 00:02:31,533 SEN. ROBERT MENENDEZ: To those who were digging my political grave so 36 00:02:31,533 --> 00:02:35,400 that they could jump into my seat, I know who you are and I won't forget you. 37 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:40,133 LISA DESJARDINS: Menendez survived that bribery case in 2017. Prosecutors alleged 38 00:02:40,133 --> 00:02:43,466 that he took nearly a million dollars worth of gifts in exchange for helping 39 00:02:43,466 --> 00:02:48,200 a friend's business. The DOJ did not retry the case after jurors deadlocked. 40 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:51,833 EDWARD NORRIS, Juror: It was a victimless crime, I think, and I just didn't see a smoking gun. 41 00:02:51,833 --> 00:02:56,133 LISA DESJARDINS: Salant says, in this year's case, there is a change in Jersey political cycles. 42 00:02:56,133 --> 00:03:00,733 JONATHAN SALANT: It was outrageous enough that the delegation called for his resignation, 43 00:03:00,733 --> 00:03:04,200 the governor called for his resignation. So this goes -- in 44 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:09,200 the opinion of those folks, goes beyond normal rough-and-tough New Jersey politics. 45 00:03:10,866 --> 00:03:12,966 LISA DESJARDINS: Congressman Andy Kim is the prohibitive favorite to 46 00:03:12,966 --> 00:03:17,066 win New Jersey's Democratic primary this June. Menendez is sitting out that race, 47 00:03:17,066 --> 00:03:19,700 but could run as an independent in November. 48 00:03:19,700 --> 00:03:23,766 JONATHAN SALANT: If Menendez runs as an independent, that could scramble everything. 49 00:03:23,766 --> 00:03:26,833 LISA DESJARDINS: Democrats face longer odds to keep the Senate if New Jersey 50 00:03:26,833 --> 00:03:31,500 becomes a battleground, but, for Menendez, much more than his political future is on 51 00:03:31,500 --> 00:03:36,500 the line. If convicted on all charges, he could face a sentence of over 200 years. 52 00:03:37,700 --> 00:03:42,233 For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Lisa Desjardins.