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U.S. NEWS Friday 27 OctOber 2017

Menendez gets support of colleagues as mistrial motion looms

By DAVID PORTER South Carolina, said during
Associated Press about six minutes of testi-
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Sen. mony. “A handshake is all
Bob Menendez got a hand you need from Bob. He’s a
from colleagues on both very honest, hardworking
sides of the political aisle senator.”
in his corruption trial Thurs- After court recessed,
day, with Republican Sen. Menendez said the two
Lindsey Graham and fel- men displayed “extraor-
low New Jersey Democrat- dinary courage,” and he
ic Sen. Cory Booker testify- thanked them for “telling
ing that he is trustworthy the jury about who I really
and honest. am.”
After their testimony, the The political stakes of the
trial devolved into heated trial are high, with Demo-
arguments between the cratic senators facing pres-
judge and defense at- sure from national Repub-
torneys, who said they licans to push Menendez
planned to file for a mistrial out of the Senate if he’s
based on his rulings that, convicted. If Menendez re-
they said, hamstrung their signs or is voted out of the
case by preventing the jury Senate by a two-thirds ma-
from hearing certain wit- jority before Republican
nesses and seeing certain U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, center, arrives at the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Courthouse for his Gov. Chris Christie leaves
exhibits. federal corruption trial, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Newark, N.J. office in January, Christie
“I am deeply disappoint- (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) would get to choose a re-
ed that it came to the we will carry on.” Menendez is charged with torneys called Graham, placement for the last year
point that my lawyers had The defense was expected accepting free trips on a who has known Menendez of the term.
to make the motion they to file a formal motion later private jet and other gifts since their days in Congress Menendez is up for re-elec-
made today,” Menendez Thursday or Friday. from Melgen, a longtime in the early 1990s, and tion next year.
said in brief remarks out- It comes as the trial winds friend, in exchange for lob- Booker, who has served Graham said he got to
side the courthouse. “What down after eight weeks, bying government officials alongside Menendez for know Menendez when
they said in court stands during which neither on behalf of Melgen’s busi- the last four years. they worked on immigra-
for how I feel, their words Menendez nor co-defen- ness interests, including an “In very difficult circum- tion reform and on nation-
stand for where we view dant Salomon Melgen tes- $8.9 million billing dispute stances he always keeps al security issues affecting
things at this moment, but tified. with Medicare.Defense at- his word,” Graham, from Israel. q
US agrees to pay tea party groups in suits over IRS scrutiny

By SADIE GURMAN scandal that dogged the settlement still needs a an apology from the IRS for asked improper questions
Associated Press Obama administration and judge’s approval. the intensive scrutiny of the about their donors and
WASHINGTON (AP) — The continues to irk Republi- Eddie Greim, a lawyer rep- groups, which argued their even their religious practic-
Trump administration has cans. resenting more than 400 constitutional rights were es, an inspector general’s
agreed to what a lawyer In settling the case, the groups in a class-action violated when they were report found.
described as a “very sub- Trump administration is suit, described the finan- singled out based on their The Obama Justice De-
stantial” payout to hun- agreeing to government cial settlement as generous political views.Republicans partment announced in
dreds of tea party groups payments to groups that but would not elaborate were outraged in 2013 2015 that no one at the
to settle a class-action law- share its political beliefs. because details remained when the IRS admitted the IRS would be prosecuted.
suit over the extra, often The conservative, anti- sealed Thursday. targeting, in part by zero- It said investigators found
burdensome IRS scrutiny establishment tea party The Justice Department ing in on groups with words mismanagement but no
they received when apply- movement was something made no reference to a such as “tea party” or “pa- evidence that the tax
ing for tax-exempt status of a precursor to Donald payout in its announce- triot” in their names. agency had targeted a
during the 2012 election. Trump’s populist, America- ment. Many had their applica- political group based on
The settlement would end first presidential campaign. The department said it is set- tions delayed for months its viewpoints or obstructed
a chapter in a political Announced Thursday, the tling a second lawsuit with and years. Some were justice.q