DOJ to charge Sen. Menendez with corruption
CNN and The New York Times report that Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., will face criminal corruption charges from the Department of Justice over accusations that he improperly advocated the business interests of a donor and friend, Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen, in return for gifts. Ref. USAToday.
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A federal grand jury has indicted Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., on corruption charges for allegedly using his Senate office to push the business interests of a friend and donor in exchange for gifts.
Investigators have focused in part on plane trips Menendez took in 2010 to the Dominican Republic as a guest of Salomon Melgen, a Florida ophthalmologist whom the senator has called a friend and political supporter. In 2013, after word of the federal investigation became public, Menendez paid back Melgen $58,000 for the plane trips. He called his failure to properly disclose the flights an "Oversight."
The case was brought by the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section. Ref. CNN
Justice Department asks to drop Sen. Menendez indictment, ending corruption case launched in 2015. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was accused of accepting bribes in the form of campaign contributions and luxury travel in exchange for using his office to promote co-defendant Salomon Melgen's business and personal interests with officials of President Barack Obama's administration. He is running for re-election in November. Ref. USAToday.
Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, admonished by the Senate Ethics Committee and ordered to repay gifts from rich donor. The Senate's ethics committee admonished Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., Thursday for accepting gifts and advocating for a donor's personal and business interests. "Your actions reflected discredit upon the Senate," the four-page "Public letter of admonition" said. The letter cited Menendez's use of a private jet owned by Florida eye specialist Salomon Melgen and his intervention with Medicare officials about the $8.9 million Melgen was accused of overcharging the government. Ref. USAToday.