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The Latest: Senate will resume Menendez ethics inquiry

Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez becomes emotional as he speaks to reporters in front of the courthouse in Newark, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. The federal bribery trial of Menendez ended in a mistrial Thursday when the jury said it was hopelessly deadlocked on all charges against the New Jersey politician and a wealthy donor. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Original Publication Date November 16, 2017 - 9:06 AM

NEWARK, N.J. - The Latest on the Sen. Bob Menendez bribery trial (all times local):

6:30 p.m.

A bi-partisan group of senators say they plan to resume an ethics inquiry into Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez.

Democrat and Republican members of the ethics committee said Thursday after a mistrial was declared in Menendez's criminal trial that it will resume a preliminary inquiry into alleged misconduct.

The inquiry was started in 2012, but was deferred in 2013 after the criminal investigation began.

Menendez's chief of staff, Fred Turner, says there's no merit to further pursuing the matter and the committee will "come to no different conclusion" than the jury.

The jury said Thursday it reach a unanimous verdict on any of the 18 counts against Menendez and a friend.

One of the charges was that Menendez failed to report gifts on his Senate financial disclosure forms.

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5 p.m.

New Jersey's most influential Democratic officials are standing up for Sen. Bob Menendez and say they'd back him if he runs for re-election next year.

Democratic Gov.-elect Phil Murphy says Menendez would have his "full support" if he runs. Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney said "absolutely" he'll back Menendez in 2018.

Their comments came even though there is a prospect federal prosecutors will re-try Menendez on the bribery charges.

Menendez's six-year term is up in 2018.

His political adviser says that "all things indicate" he will run for re-election next year and an announcement is likely in the "coming weeks."

The judge declared a mistrial Thursday.

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2:30 p.m.

The top Republican in the Senate is calling for the ethics committee to investigate Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez after his federal bribery trial ended in a mistrial.

Sen. Mitch McConnell said in a statement Thursday that Menendez had been indicted on numerous federal felonies and his trial shed light on serious accusations of "violating the public's trust as trust as an elected official, as well as potential violations of the Senate's Code of Conduct."

The Kentucky Republican said that because of the seriousness of the charges, he was calling on the Ethics panel to immediately investigate the senator's actions that led to the indictment.

Menendez says he's looking forward to getting back to work in Washington.

He is up for re-election next year.

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2:05 p.m.

Federal prosecutors say they will "carefully consider next steps" over whether to re-try Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez and a wealthy friend.

A spokeswoman for the Justice Department said that it appreciates the service of the jury, which told a judge it was deadlocked Thursday before he declared a mistrial.

Menendez blasted prosecutors and says the way the case was investigated and the way prosecutors brought charges and tried the case was wrong.

Juror Edward Norris says that 10 of the 12 jurors wanted to acquit Menendez, while two were holding out for a conviction.

The jury Thursday they reviewed the evidence "slowly and thoroughly and in great detail" but remained deadlocked.

Menendez and Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen (MEHL'-genn) were charged with running a bribery scheme.

Menendez is up for re-election next year.

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2 p.m.

One of the jurors in Sen. Bob Menendez's bribery trial says that the jury finished with 10 people who wanted to acquit the Democrat, but two holding out for a conviction.

Juror Edward Norris said Thursday after a judge declared a mistrial that he wanted Menendez to be acquitted.

The jury said they couldn't reach a unanimous verdict on any of the 18 counts in the indictment against the New Jersey Democrat and a wealthy friend. They said Thursday they reviewed the evidence "slowly and thoroughly and in great detail" but remained deadlocked.

The trial was in its 11th week. Menendez and Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen (MEHL'-genn) were charged with running a bribery scheme between 2006 and 2013.

Prosecutors have the option of retrying the men.

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1:50 p.m.

Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez is blasting federal investigators for bringing a bribery case against him after a judge declared a mistrial.

Menendez said Thursday that the way the case was investigated and the way prosecutors brought charges and tried the case was wrong.

He also thanked those that helped him raise millions for his legal defence fund.

The jury said they couldn't reach a unanimous verdict on any of the 18 counts in the indictment against Menendez and a wealthy friend. They said Thursday they reviewed the evidence "slowly and thoroughly and in great detail" but remained deadlocked.

The trial was in its 11th week. Menendez and Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen (MEHL'-genn) were charged with running a bribery scheme between 2006 and 2013.

Prosecutors have the option of retrying the men.

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1:35 p.m.

Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez's political adviser says that "all things indicate" he will run for re-election next year and an announcement is likely in the "coming weeks."

Mike Soliman pointed to Menendez's "active schedule fighting on behalf of all New Jerseyans" during the 11 week trial.

The judge in the New Jersey Democrats' federal bribery trial declared a mistrial Thursday. Prosecutors can still decide to re-try him.

New Jersey's Democratic Senate president, Steve Sweeney, says he will "absolutely" support Menendez's re-election effort. He says too many people tried to convict him without his day in court.

Menendez first joined the Senate when he was appointed in 2006, winning election later that year.

Menendez has already raised more than $2.5 million for re-election this year.

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1:05 p.m.

Sen. Bob Menendez's bribery trial has ended in a mistrial after the jury said it was hopelessly deadlocked on the charges against the Democrat and his co-defendant.

Judge William Walls declared the mistrial Thursday.

The jury first told him on Monday they couldn't reach a unanimous verdict on any of the 18 counts in the indictment against Menendez and a wealthy friend. They said Thursday they reviewed the evidence "slowly and thoroughly and in great detail" but remained deadlocked.

The trial was in its 11th week. Menendez and Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen (MEHL'-genn) were charged with running a bribery scheme between 2006 and 2013 in which Menendez traded his political influence for luxury vacations and flights on the doctor's private plane.

Prosecutors have the option of retrying the men.

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12:10 p.m.

The judge and lawyers in Sen. Bob Menendez's bribery trial are interviewing jurors as the jury says it remained deadlocked.

Menendez's defence lawyer on Thursday asked Judge William Walls to declare a mistrial. An attorney for co-defendant Salomon Melgen asked Walls to poll the jury individually to confirm they are deadlocked.

Federal prosecutors have asked Walls to give the jury more time to deliberate and to give them partial verdict instructions, but Walls says he won't do that.

Deliberations began Nov. 6. On Monday the jury told the judge they were deadlocked, but he told them to keep going. They deliberated Tuesday, Wednesday and some of Thursday morning without reaching a unanimous verdict against the New Jersey Democrat and the Florida eye doctor.

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11:45 a.m.

The jury in Sen. Bob Menendez's bribery trial has told a judge that it remains deadlocked.

Menendez's defence lawyer on Thursday asked Judge William Walls to declare a mistrial. An attorney for co-defendant Salomon Melgen is asking Walls to poll the jury individually to confirm they are deadlocked.

Federal prosecutors have asked Walls to give the jury more time to deliberate and to give them partial verdict instructions, but Walls says he won't do that.

Deliberations began Nov. 6. On Monday the jury told the judge they were deadlocked, but he told them to keep going. They deliberated Tuesday, Wednesday and some of Thursday morning without reaching a unanimous verdict against the New Jersey Democrat and the Florida eye doctor.

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10:20 a.m.

Jurors have begun a seventh full day of deliberations in the bribery trial of Sen. Bob Menendez.

The panel reconvened Thursday morning in Newark, New Jersey.

Deliberations began Nov. 6. On Monday the jury told the judge they were deadlocked, but he told them to keep going. They deliberated Tuesday and Wednesday without reaching a unanimous verdict against the New Jersey Democrat and his longtime friend, Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen (MEHL'-genn).

If they don't reach a verdict Thursday, deliberations might resume Monday. The trial hasn't sat on Fridays since it began in early September.

The New Jersey Democrat is charged with accepting gifts from Melgen in exchange for using his political influence. Both men deny the allegations.

News from © The Associated Press, 2017
The Associated Press

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