That would be Sen. Robert Menendez, who’s lately been something of a thorn in Barry’s side over the rapprochement with Cuba and the pending Iran nuclear deal. So what better why to adjust his attitude than by having the Justice Department come down on his head?
The Justice Department is preparing to bring criminal corruption charges against New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez, a Democrat, alleging he used his Senate office to push the business interests of a Democratic donor and friend in exchange for gifts. People briefed on the case say Attorney General Eric Holder has signed off on prosecutors’ request to proceed with charges, CNN has learned exclusively. An announcement could come within weeks. Prosecutors are under pressure in part because of the statute of limitation on some of the allegations…
The government’s case centers on Menendez’s relationship with Salomon Melgen, a Florida ophthalmologist who the senator has called a friend and political supporter. Melgen and his family have been generous donors to the senator and various committees the senator is associated with.
Investigators have focused in part on plane trips Menendez took in 2010 to the Dominican Republic as a guest of Melgen. In 2013, after word of the federal investigation became public, Menendez paid back Melgen $58,000 for the 2010 plane trips calling his failure to properly disclose the flights an “oversight.” Menendez has denied any wrongdoing in his ties to Melgen.
Just another day at the Jersey Shore: the probably-corrupt Menendez succeeded the uber-corrupt Jon Corzine, whose fingerprints were all over the MF Global financial scandal, from which, being a Democrat, he of course skated. Menendez may not be so lucky:
One of the highest ranking Hispanic members of Congress, Menendez is a former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He has become one of the Obama administration’s most vocal Democratic opponents on two key foreign policy matters — President Obama’s decision to ease the trade embargo against Cuba and also his effort to engage direct negotiations with Iran over that country’s nuclear program.
Meanwhile, his buddy Melgen looks just a wee bit hinky:
Menendez advocated on Melgen’s behalf with federal Medicare administrators who accused Melgen of overbilling the government’s healthcare program, according to court documents and people briefed on the probe. Melgen was among the top recipients of Medicare reimbursements in recent years, during a time when he was also a major Democratic donor. Melgen’s attorneys have denied any wrongdoing.
There are some states that just shouldn’t be allow to exist: New Jersey is one, Illinois another and Nevada a third. (Arkansas used to be in the wholly owned-and-operated by organized crime club, but isn’t today). I’m sure, though, that Menendez’s opposition to two of Barry’s pet foreign-policy legacy project is merely a coincidence.
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