Menendez, who is charged with conspiring to act as an agent of Egypt and other offenses, is scheduled to stand trial in May and sought a two-month delay to account for what his lawyers described as voluminous evidence that required more time to examine.
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Judge Sidney Stein found the argument unpersuasive.
"The fact that discovery has been voluminous is consistent with the parties' stated expectations on October 2 and does not justify a two-month adjournment of the schedule," Stein said. "In fact, the volume of discovery material is less than defendants were concerned it was when they sought the adjournment on December 20."
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Four defendants, including Menendez, have pleaded not guilty to a bribery conspiracy charge that alleges that Menendez and his wife accepted bribes of cash, gold bars and a luxury car from three New Jersey businessmen who wanted the senator's help and influence over foreign affairs.
The senator, his wife and a third defendant have also pleaded not guilty to a charge that they conspired to utilize the senator as an agent of the Egyptian government even though he was prohibited from doing so as a member of Congress.
The trial is set for May 6.
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