Bob Menendez avoided prison because his defense lawyer hung a jury with the argument -- and this is a real quote -- that "gifts to cultivate a friendship are not bribes."
But who paid for those gifts, including private jets, luxury resorts in the Dominican and Paris, and $600K through the Senate Majority PAC, the same Super PAC rescuing Menendez this year?
You did, taxpayer. Palm Beach eye doctor Sal Melgen stole the money from you.
You did, taxpayer. Palm Beach eye doctor Sal Melgen stole the money from you.
Melgen is now an inmate at the Miami Federal Correctional Institution, convicted of 67 counts of fraud.
Melgen looted Medicare for about a hundred million dollars. And he subjected seniors to totally unnecessary, excruciating procures for some of his scams.
Melgen looted Medicare for about a hundred million dollars. And he subjected seniors to totally unnecessary, excruciating procures for some of his scams.
That's how he paid for those "gifts to cultivate a friendship" with Menendez.
And what did Menendez do for his friend? Tried to scuttle the Medicare fraud investigation, escalating all the way to the HHS Secretary to ask her to allow Melgen's rampant overbilling.
And what did Menendez do for his friend? Tried to scuttle the Medicare fraud investigation, escalating all the way to the HHS Secretary to ask her to allow Melgen's rampant overbilling.
Menendez also tried to block a CBP donation of cargo scanning equipment to the Dominican Republic because Melgen, an eye doctor with no security experience, had bought a port security company and Menendez was trying to force the Dominican Republic to use it to enrich his friend.
These are the unanimous findings of the bipartisan Senate Ethics Committee when it "severe admonished" Menendez.
But every Senate Democrat supports him for re-election anyway.
Democrats will not police their own and bribery convictions are not going to happen post-McDonnell.
But every Senate Democrat supports him for re-election anyway.
Democrats will not police their own and bribery convictions are not going to happen post-McDonnell.
New Jersey voters: we're counting on you to hold this man who lived an international life of luxury on money stolen from Medicare in a fraud scheme he tried to excuse accountable.
This man who actively undermined international security must not chair Senate Foreign Relations.
This man who actively undermined international security must not chair Senate Foreign Relations.
Please New Jersey. Don't choke.
