At Nadine Menendez Trial, Prosecutors Portray Her As 'partner In Crime' With Her Convicted Husband

Nadine Menendez and her prison-bound husband - former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez - were "partners in crime," a prosecutor told a jury Monday as opening statements began in her trial over allegations that the power couple accepted bribes of cash and gold bars.

The longtime senator was convicted last year of accepting bribes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from three New Jersey businessmen. Now, a new jury will hear similar evidence about Nadine Menendez, 58, after her trial was postponed when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Pomerantz said Nadine Menendez "did the dirty work" for the 71-year-old New Jersey Democrat, who is scheduled to report to prison in June to begin serving an 11-year sentence.

Defense attorney Barry Coburn told jurors they will have to exonerate Nadine Menendez because there will be an "absolute, utter failure of proof in this case."

Nadine Menendez has pleaded not guilty to charges that she participated in the bribery scheme that resulted in her husband's conviction.