UPDATE: Judge declares mistrial in Senator Bob Menendez federal corruption trial

NEWARK -- For the second time this week, the jurors in the federal corruption trial of U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez told the judge Thursday that they can not agree on a verdict in the high-profile case.

A note from the jury was read aloud in the courtroom shortly before noon.

"We can not reach a unanimous decision on any of the charges," the note said. "Nor are we willing to move away from our strong convictions."

The jurors also wrote they "reviewed all the evidence slowly, thoroughly and in great detail."

Defense attorneys called on U.S. District Judge William Walls to declare a mistrial. Prosecutors asked Walls to send the jurors back into deliberations to see if they can reach a partial verdict.

Walls began calling each juror into his chambers individually to question them about the note. The judge was behind closed doors for nearly an hour questioning the jurors with Menendez, the defense attorneys and prosecutors present.

It appeared at least one of the jurors was questioned for more than 45 minutes.

On Monday, the jury foreman also sent the judge a note around 2 p.m. saying the group could not reach a verdict on any of the counts. Walls dismissed the jurors early, told them to get a good night's sleep and return ready to deliberate again the following day.

Monday's note was sent out just hours after an alternate juror joined the group to replace one who was excused last week for vacation. That departing juror, Evelyn Arroyo-Maultsby, told reporters that jurors couldn't agree on a verdict on any of the bribery counts against the New Jersey Democrat or his co-defendant, Salomon Melgen.

Menendez's attorney argued Monday that the judge should declare a mistrial. Prosecutors asked that the jury have more time to deliberate.

The jury deliberations, which began last week, followed eight weeks of testimony.

Prosecutors had alleged Melgen, a wealthy ophthalmologist, had provided the senator with six-figure campaign contributions, luxury hotel stays and private plane flights in exchange for Menendez's intervention on the doctor's behalf in an $8.9 million Medicare billing dispute, the visa applications of Melgen's foreign girlfriends and a contested port security contract in the Dominican Republic.

Defense attorneys sought to convince the jury Menendez's meetings with government officials were routine legislative activity, rather than corrupt acts performed in exchange for bribes from the Florida physician.

Ultimately, neither Menendez nor his co-defendant, Melgen, both 63, elected to take the stand in their own defense.

Thomas Moriarty may be reached by email at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty.