Judge in Menendez Bribery Case Declares Mistrial

New Jersey 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 Judge Walls on Monday that it couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict on any of the 18 counts in the indictment against Menendez and a wealthy friend. Jurors said Thursday that they'd reviewed the evidence "slowly and thoroughly and in great detail," but remained deadlocked.

BREAKING: Judge Walls declares a mistrial in Menendez trial: "I find that you are unable to reach a verdict" and that "there is no alternative but to declare a mistrial."

— Nick Corasaniti (@NYTnickc) November 16, 2017

The trial was in its 11th week. Menendez and Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen 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. Both men deny the allegations.

Menendez’s defense lawyer on Thursday asked Judge Walls to declare a mistrial. An attorney for Melgen asked Walls to poll the jury individually to confirm that they were deadlocked.

Federal prosecutors, in turn, asked Judge Walls to give the jury more time to deliberate, and to give them partial verdict instructions. Judge Walls said he would not.

Prosecutors have the option of retrying the men.