A choked-up Sen. Robert Menendez savaged the FBI for wrongfully targeting him in a federal corruption probe that led only to a Thursday mistrial.
Newark Federal Judge Williams Walls announced the hung jury shortly after 1 p.m. following the second jury note in four days declaring the panel was at an impasse.
“I’ve made my share of mistakes,” a relieved yet angry Menendez said outside the courthouse. “But my mistakes were never a crime.”
The two-term senator, 63, unleashed a lengthy harangue against both the FBI and federal prosecutors. “The way this case started was wrong,” Menendez declared. “The way it was investigated was wrong. The way it was prosecuted was wrong. And the way it was tried was wrong as well.
“Certain elements of the FBI and our state cannot understand or accept that the Latino kid from Union City and Hudson County can grow up to be a U.S. senator — and be honest.”
The jury, after seven tense days of deliberation, was split 10-2 for acquittal in the trial of Menendez and his friend of 25 years, co-defendant Salomon Melgen.
Prosecutors charged the Democrat took gifts from eye doctor Melgen in return for helping his pal’s girlfriends obtain U.S. visas.
Juror Edward Norris said the prosecution case failed to impress the panel. “In my gut, I was like, ‘That’s it? That’s all they had?’ ” he recalled.
Prosecutors did not say if they would retry Menendez, who is up for reelection in November 2018.
