NEWARK — Federal prosecutors on Wednesday opened the trial of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez by depicting him as a man who violated the public’s trust, traded his considerable power for luxuries and overlooked the interests of New Jersey to serve as the “personal” senator for a man living 1,000 miles away.

Defense attorneys did not dispute many of the benefits Menendez gained from his relationship with co-defendant Salomon Melgen, a Florida eye doctor and longtime friend, including flights on Melgen's personal jet, stays at his villa in the Dominican Republic and hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions. But they disputed the alleged motives behind Menendez’s actions and accused the government of cherry-picking information over a lengthy political career to present the jury with a portrait of corruption.

In opening statements at the federal court house in Newark, attorneys began what is expected to be a six- to eight-week trial with potentially long-lasting implications, both personal and political.

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If Menendez, a Democrat, is convicted, Republicans are likely to call for him to step down immediately. And if he does, or if he’s forced out of the Senate by a two-thirds majority vote before Jan. 16, Republican Gov. Chris Christie, an ally of President Donald Trump, would be able to pick his replacement.

Christie's choice of a fellow Republican would pad the GOP's slim majority in the Senate and could aid the party's efforts to pass legislation.

Menendez has been defiant since he was indicted two years ago on charges that he used his office to benefit Melgen’s personal and business interests. With his two children and more than a dozen supporters by his side Wednesday, including U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, Menendez once again insisted that "not once have I dishonored my public office" and that the trial would clear his name.

After his trial adjourned for the day, Menendez walked across the street to the United States Attorney's office to lead a rally against Trump's decision to unwind a program that protects undocumented immigrants who entered the country as children.

While Menendez's lead attorney focused at times on the senator's history of advocacy on behalf of immigrants, the poor and victims of Superstorm Sandy, the prosecution presented the jury with a portrait of a venal veteran lawmaker whose prevailing interest was Melgen and his money.

“Robert Menendez was Solomon Melgen’s personal United States senator,” said Peter Koski, the lead prosecutor. In return, he said, “Melgen gave Menendez access to a lifestyle that reads like a travel brochure for the rich and famous.”

According to prosecutors, Melgen bribed Menendez with more than $700,000 in contributions to political committees that helped the senator get re-elected in 2012, as well as free flights on Melgen's private jet, vacations at his home in a Dominican Republic resort, golf outings and a stay at a hotel suite in Paris.

In return, Menendez allegedly lobbied officials in the departments of Health and Human Services, Homeland Security and State about three issues: a Medicare regulation Melgen used to receive $9 million in reimbursements the government said were illegal; a contract a Melgen-owned company had to screen cargo leaving the Dominican Republic; and visa applications to allow girlfriends of Melgen, who is married, to visit him in Florida.

“Pay close attention to the timing in this case,” Koski said, drawing a connection between what he called the “escalation of action” by Menendez and the “escalation of money” provided by Melgen. “This is what bribery looks like.”

Defense attorneys argued otherwise. In their opening statements, lawyers for Menendez and Melgen charged that what prosecutors characterized as a “corrupt agreement” between the senator and eye doctor was in reality a 25-year-long friendship running so deep the men often referred to one another as “hermano,” or “brother,” and attended the weddings and funerals of family members.

“He did it for one reason: Friends listen to their friends,” Menendez attorney Abbe Lowell said of the senator’s motivation for helping Melgen. “Friends do not need to, try to, or would ever want to or even think of bribing a real friend.”

Lowell stressed that evidence left out of the indictment will show that Menendez has helped “hundreds” of people who live outside of New Jersey navigate government bureaucracy, and that most of the trips Menendez has taken to visit Melgen and his family, including one to attend the wedding of Melgen’s daughter in 2009, were paid for with his own money.

Lowell also pointed out that Menendez could have introduced legislation to benefit Melgen but never did. Instead, Lowell said, Menendez lobbied executive branch officials who were not under his control, suggesting that his advocacy doesn't meet a recent Supreme Court definition for “official acts” that prosecutors must prove to sustain a bribery charge.

And in any case, defense attorneys said, Menendez had legitimate policy concerns and nothing he did ever benefited Melgen financially.

“Zero, zip, nada, nothing, not one dime,” Melgen attorney Kirk Ogrosky said. “Nothing the senator ever did for my client resulted in him getting money.”

For his part, Melgen felt compelled to help Menendez “out of the sincere belief that Sen. Menendez was good for this country,” Ogrosky said, adding that the men share cultural and political values.

Before opening statements, three additional jurors were seated — one to fill the spot of a previously selected juror that had been dismissed for financial hardship, and two as additional alternates. There are now 18 jurors total, including six alternates.

The federal district court judge overseeing the case, William H. Walls, also granted a motion made by prosecutors to suppress six subpoenas Menendez’s legal team had issued to various federal agencies seeking documents related to Medicare reimbursement policies, drug trafficking through Dominican ports and other matters.

Defense attorneys had argued that such information could help show that Menendez’s advocacy on behalf of Melgen was “justified” and “based on merit,” not part of a bribery scheme. But prosecutors said the subpoenas would burden the agencies with sifting through tens of thousands of documents, and Walls ruled that the requests were both “vague” and “without relevance.”

“That is so broad that we would be another five years trying this case if I permit it,” Walls said.

Those proceedings delayed the start of opening statements Wednesday and Ogrosky did not complete his remarks to the jury. He is expected to resume his arguments Thursday morning.

Email: pugliese@northjersey.com and racioppi@northjersey.com