Nadine Menendez wants the feds to give back her jewelry, court papers show.  Convicted of taking cash, gold bars, and a new Mercedes as part of the bribery scheme that landed her husband in prison, Nadine Menendez said her jewelry was not part of any illegal payoffs. Her lawyers filed a motion seeking to get the jewels back before she reports to prison. “There is no dispute the jewelry is not contraband, and that the forfeiture order in the criminal case against Mrs. Menendez does not identify the jewelry as forfeitable,” attorneys Cozen O’Connor and Stephen A. Miller wrote. Nadine Menendez was convicted of helping her husband – former NJ Senator Bob Menendez (D) – get hundreds of thousands in payments from three New Jersey businessmen in a wide-ranging bribery scheme.  Nadine Menendez is arguing the jewelry seized by the FBI during searches of her home were family heirlooms that were not paid for with bribe money. Defense lawyers quoted prosecutors from one part of the trial: “This case doesn’t have to do with jewelry … It has to do with something very specific, which is kilo bars of gold.” Judge Sydney Stein has ordered the couple surrender their Englewood Cliffs home, the gold bars, the Mercedez, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash as well as an elliptical machine. Nadine Menendez is ordered to repay more than $900,000.  Prosecutors have argued the jewelry can be held as possible forfeiture if Nadine Menendez does not pay the court judgment. Nicholas Biase – spokesman for the Southern District of New York – declined to comment. Photos of the jewelry seized include gold and pearl necklaces, a Tiffany’s ring, and watches.   The only jewelry the defense seems willing to consider ceding is the engagement ring then-Sen. Menendez “gifted” to Nadine Menendez.  The defense said it wants dozens of pieces of jewelry returned because in part because it was never even used as evidence of bribes at trial. Nadine Menendez is set to begin serving her 54 month this summer after recovering from breast cancer treatment.  Former Senator Menendez began serving 11 years this past June.  Last week, New Jersey’s state attorney general announced Bob Menendez is banned from ever holding public office again.  ...read more read less