Federal Prosecutors Investigate New Jersey Sen. Menendez
NEW YORK — Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., is under federal criminal investigation again in an apparent revival of accusations he took bribes to steer contracts to an eye doctor who donated to his campaign.
Menendez was indicted and put on trial in 2017 but it ended in a mistrial when the jury failed to reach a verdict.
A Menendez spokesman confirmed the investigation but said he is unsure why the New Jersey Democrat is being targeted.
“Senator Menendez is aware of an investigation that was reported today,” said Michael Soliman, a Menendez political adviser. “However, he does not know the scope of the investigation.”
The investigation led by federal prosecutors was reported first on Wednesday by the digital news site Semafor.
The report quoted anonymous sources saying, “Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York have contacted people connected to Menendez in recent weeks, the sources said. They have sent at least one subpoena in the case, according to a person connected to the inquiry.”
Semafor reported that “the broad outlines of the new inquiry are similar to the 2017 case.”
Menendez holds a powerful position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Earlier this month, he recommended halting U.S. cooperation with Saudi Arabia after it reduced oil production in an apparent show of support for Russia in its war in Ukraine. The oil production cuts also are driving up inflation in countries that import Saudi oil.
Menendez has led efforts to confront China in its threats toward Taiwan and in trade disputes with the United States.
If the corruption accusations are found to be true, his leadership role would be in jeopardy.
They appear to date from a federal grand jury investigation of whether Menendez used his influence to help the business interests of Florida ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen, who was a friend and major donor to Menendez’s election campaigns.
The Justice Department’s charges against him included bribery, fraud and making false statements.
The indictment accused Menendez of asking State Department officials to pressure the Dominican Republic to enforce a port security contract that would benefit Melgen’s company. Melgen was promising at the time to donate $60,000 to Menendez’s campaign.
Other accusations claimed Menendez helped obtain visas for Melgen’s girlfriends in exchange for receiving perks, such as trips on Melgen’s private jet, a stay in a Paris hotel and access to a Dominican resort. Menendez did not report the fringe benefits on his Senate financial disclosure forms.
Prosecutors said $750,000 of Melgen’s campaign contributions were tied to the benefits Menendez accepted.
Although he was not convicted at trial, the Senate Select Committee on Ethics admonished Menendez in an April 2018 letter that said it found evidence of the alleged financial improprieties.
“The committee has determined that this conduct violated Senate rules, federal law, and applicable standards of conduct,” the letter said. “Accordingly, the committee issues you this Public Letter of Admonition, and also directs you to repay the fair market value of all impermissible gifts not already repaid.”
Melgen later was convicted of defrauding Medicare patients but President Donald Trump commuted his prison sentence.
Tom can be reached at [email protected] and @TomRamstack
