A federal judge on Tuesday heard arguments over whether Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., should have his alleged corruption trial moved from New Jersey. Following an hour's worth of arguments, U.S. District Court Judge William Walls ruled Menendez's trial will not move to Washington, D.C. and will remain in New Jersey. 

According to Abbe Lowell, representing the Democratic senator, the case should move to the nation's capital because most of the alleged acts occurred in Washington, D.C. and most potential witnesses reside in the area. Lowell said Menendez's elected duties would also not be affected if the trial moved to Washington, D.C. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), however, said some of the alleged crimes occurred in New Jersey, including the senator accepting gifts from friend and ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen.

"As he has said from the beginning, Senator Menendez has always acted in accordance with the law and firmly believes that no matter where a jury is located, once we have an opportunity to put forth our case, and a jury hears all of the facts, he will be exonerated," said Menendez spokesperson Tricia Enright following Judge Walls' ruling. "Senator Menendez's priority has always been his work on behalf of the people of New Jersey and we plan to do everything possible to ensure that work continues with the least disruption."

As Latin Post reported, the DOJ indicted Menendez and Melgen last April on criminal corruption charges that claimed the senator committed bribery and honest services wire fraud, violated travel laws, and issued false statements.

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"I'm angry and ready to fight because today contradicts my public service career and my entire life," said Menendez during an April press conference after the DOJ announced the charges. "I'm angry because prosecutors at the Justice Department don't know the difference between friendship and corruption and have chosen to twist my duties as a Senator -- and as a friend -- into something improper. They're dead wrong, and I'm confident they will be proven so."

The indictment referenced Melgen's offers and Menendez's acceptance of domestic and international flights on private jets, stay at luxury hotel in Paris, golf outing and "tens of thousands of dollars in contribution to a legal defense fund." In addition, Menendez accepted Melgen's offers for the New Jersey senator to visit the doctor's villa in Casa de Campo in La Romana, Dominican Republic.

The Justice Department described the villa as a Spanish-style vacation setting located on one of the three golf courses as the ocean-side community, and it is served by Melgen's private staff, which "cooks, cleans, provides transportation, and generally caters to the needs of Melgen and his guests." The DOJ also alleged Menendez received "hundreds of thousands of dollars of contributions to entities that benefited Menendez' 2012 Senate campaign, in exchange for specific requested exercises of Menendez's official authority."

Menendez has said he maintains "faith" in the U.S. courts and juries to correct the prosecutors, and he asked for people to withhold their judgment.

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