Nadine Menendez did the “dirty work” to get gold bars, envelopes stuffed with cash and a new Mercedes-Benz convertible for herself and her husband, now-convicted former New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, federal prosecutors said during opening statements in her criminal trial Monday.

But a lawyer for Ms. Menendez, the wife of former Senator Robert Menendez, told jurors at the start of her bribery trial that she lacked “knowledge and intent.”