'Shut up'! Dem senator's corruption trial off to WILD start

The bribery trial of New Jersey Democrat U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez is under way, and the judge has already had to slap down the defense:

A few minutes into the Menendez trial, the judge told a Menendez lawyer to "shut up." This is going to be interesting

— Matt Friedman (@MattFriedmanNJ) September 6, 2017

A rousing start! Judge tells Menendez lawyer to "shut up" on first day of the Democrat senator's corruption trial. https://t.co/QkT9IjKrca

— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) September 6, 2017

"Shut up," judge tells Menendez lawyer https://t.co/mpRMPsqORN

— Matt Friedman (@MattFriedmanNJ) September 6, 2017

https://twitter.com/AaronBlake/status/905450574799396864

Well, that escalated quickly:

Not usually a positive indicator. https://t.co/odkcjiLf1z

— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) September 6, 2017

In recent weeks the defense lobbied the court to recess the trial to allow Sen. Menendez to return to the Senate for votes, and federal prosecutors torched that request.

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Related:

WaPo reporter explains why Sen. Menendez’s corruption trial isn’t ‘top 5 story’ (brace for ALTERNATE theories!)