Slow Trial for Menéndez

The trial of Senator Bob Menéndez (D-NJ) took 2 1/2 years just to get to court and has gotten off to a slow start. Initially, the trial was expected to take six weeks but Politico reports that last Thursday Judge William H. Walls told the attorneys he expects it to last eight weeks -- good news for Democrats. The longer the trial goes, the chances of Menéndez being forced from office in time for RepublicanGovernor Chris Christie to appoint a replacement -- which could even be himself -- get that much slimmer. Christie's last day is January 16th. And to expel Menéndez from the Senate would require a two-thirds vote -- meaning some Democrats would have to vote for it. More here.