NEWARK, N.J. — The jury in the bribery trial of Senator Bob Menendez and a wealthy donor and friend told the judge it couldn’t reach a verdict on Monday on any of the 18 counts against them, prompting the judge to order it to continue deliberating.

The development capped a tumultuous day that began with defense attorneys arguing with US District Judge William Walls over a different issue: public comments made last week by a juror who had been excused for a previously scheduled vacation.

The juror told reporters she and others were in favor of acquittal but she expected a hung jury. Defense attorneys pressed the judge to question jurors, who have been told not to read reports about the case, on whether any had heard the juror’s comments.

Four jurors and three alternates had, but after questioning them in private the judge directed the jury to restart deliberations with an alternate replacing the excused juror.

ASSOCIATED PRESS