In a surprising twist at Senator Bob Menendez's federal corruption trial, his sister, Caridad Gonzalez, took the stand as a defense witness and shared familial habits of keeping large sums of cash at home. The New Jersey Democrat is facing charges of bribery, extortion, wire fraud, obstruction of justice, and acting as a foreign agent for Egypt.

Gonzalez informed the jury that their father, mother, and aunt had developed a habit of storing cash around the house after fleeing persecution in Cuba in 1951. This tradition became a part of the family's lore, and Menendez has continued to keep cash at home since at least the 1980s.

To support this claim, one of Menendez's forensic accountants testified that he made cash withdrawals from a credit union account totaling over $400 on more than 300 occasions over a 14-year period. This testimony aimed to counter the prosecution's narrative that Menendez accepted bribes from businessmen with ties to Egypt and Qatar.

Refuting accusations of bribery, Gonzalez vehemently denied that her "baby brother" would have accepted such illicit payments. She insisted that Menendez's motivation for holding public office stemmed from his genuine desire to serve the people.

The prosecution wrapped up their case after seven weeks, presenting evidence such as emails, photos, text messages, bank records, and voicemails that implicated Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian. These pieces of evidence linked them to businessmen seeking the senator's assistance in securing deals with Egyptian and Qatari officials or hoping to halt several criminal investigations in New Jersey.

Closing arguments are expected to begin on Monday, marking a crucial phase in the trial. If Menendez is convicted on all counts, he could face a potential life sentence. Alongside him, the two New Jersey businessmen on trial, Fred Daibes and Wael "Will" Hana, have pleaded not guilty. Nadine Menendez, who is also facing charges, will be tried separately at a later date.

Although speculation arose whether Menendez would take the witness stand, he opted not to testify after extensive discussions with his legal team. Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Menendez expressed confidence that the government had failed to prove its case.

The defense also argued that Menendez and Arslanian were not operating a bribery scheme during a period of their relationship when they were broken up. They claimed that Arslanian had obtained a restraining order against an ex-boyfriend, whom they portrayed as controlling and ever-present in her life.

Throughout the trial, the judge expressed frustration, referring to the defense's narrative as a "bad soap opera." However, witnesses, including Menendez's sister, maintained their close relationship with the senator and defended his integrity.

As the trial progresses, the defense's strategy rests on dismantling the prosecution's allegations of corruption and emphasizing a family tradition of storing cash at home. The outcome of this high-profile trial will undoubtedly have significant implications for Menendez's political career and the state of New Jersey.