Closing arguments under way in corruption trial of Democratic Senator Bob Menendez

Closing arguments are due to wrap up in the high-profile corruption trial of Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, as lawyers for the congressman continue to claim that prosecutors have not proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Mr Menendez, 70, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he accepted brides, including gold bars, in exchange for helping foreign governments.

His lawyers began closing arguments in the case on Tuesday. They are set to finish on Wednesday before jurors are sent off to reach a verdict.

“Prosecutors have not come close to meeting their burden to show you that any of the gold or cash was given to Senator Menendez as a bribe,” Mr Menendez’s lawyer told the Manhattan court on Tuesday.

“This is a case with a lot of inferences,” Adam Fee added.

Closing arguments come after eight weeks of trial, with Mr Menendez facing 18 charges.

If convicted, the 70-year-old faces decades in prison and possible expulsion from the Democratic Party.

During the trial, prosecutors have relied on expert testimony, emails and Mr Menendez’s text messages to show what they claim is proof that the senator accepted lavish rewards from foreign governments.

They say the gifts included gold bars worth over $100,000 (£78,800), as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash.

Mr Menendez’s wife, Nadine, also faces charges in the bribery case, but will go on trial at a later date. She has also pleaded not guilty.

During the prosecution’s own closing arguments – which lasted five hours and finished on Tuesday – federal prosecutor Paul Monteleoni urged jurors to hold the New Jersey senator responsible for his alleged wrongdoings.

“This is a big case,” he said, “but it all boils down to a classic case of corruption on a massive scale.”

Lawyers for Mr Menendez, meanwhile, have countered this week by claiming there were too many gaps in the case for jurors to find the congressman guilty.

“There’s zero evidence of him saying or suggesting that he was doing something for a bribe,” Mr Fee said.

After jurors were sent home on Tuesday, Mr Fee told the judge that he was about halfway through his five hours of closing arguments.

Other defence lawyers will take their turn at the podium after him, followed by a rebuttal from prosecutors.

Mr Menendez is standing trial alongside two businessmen, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, who prosecutors say sought out the senator to illegally aid the Egyptian government.

The two have pleaded not guilty, while a third businessman, Jose Uribe, has pleaded guilty and testified against Mr Menendez in the trial.