NEW JERSEY – U.S. Senator Robert Menendez was indicted for conspiracy, bribery and honest services fraud for allegedly accepting gifts from Florida ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen in exchange for using his political power to help Melgen’s “financial and personal interests,” according to federal prosecutors.
Menendez also allegedly helped several Melgen’s girlfriends with visa applications, prosecutors stated.
Menendez, 61, of Paramus, New Jersey, and Melgen, 60, of Palm Beach, Florida, were indicted in the District of New Jersey for one count of conspiracy, one count of violating the travel act, eight counts of bribery and three counts of honest services fraud.
Menendez was also charged with one count of making false statements.
He vehemently denied the charges, saying prosecutors were going after him for not supporting the Iran nuclear talks.
“I am outraged that prosecutors at the Justice Department were tricked into starting this investigation three years ago with false allegations by those who have a political motive to silence me,” Menendez told reporters. “But I will not be silenced. I am confident at the end of the day I will be vindicated, and they will be exposed.”
His remark drew cheers from his supporters.
Between January 2006 and January 2013, prosecutors allege that Menendez accepted close to $1 million worth of lavish gifts and campaign contributions from Melgen in exchange for using the power of his Senate office to influence the outcome of ongoing contractual and Medicare billing disputes worth tens of millions of dollars to Melgen and to support the visa applications of several of Melgen’s girlfriends.
Menendez was also charged with one count of making false statements, according to the 65-page indictment.
“The job of an elected official is to serve the people,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Frankel. “The citizens of New Jersey have the right to demand honest, unbiased service and representation from their elected officials at all levels of government. The charges and activity alleged in this indictment are another example of the FBI’s commitment to aggressively and tenaciously pursue public corruption in the state of New Jersey.”
According to allegations in the 65-page indictment, these are facts and circumstances surrounding this case:
- Menendez accepted flights on Melgen’s private jet, a first-class commercial flight and a flight on a chartered jet
- He accepted numerous vacations at Melgen’s Caribbean villa in the Dominican Republic and at a hotel room in Paris
- There were $40,000 in contributions to his legal defense fund
- Over $750,000 in campaign contributions.
Menendez never disclosed any of the reportable gifts that he received from Melgen on his financial disclosure forms, officials claim.
During this same time period, the indictment states that Menendez allegedly engaged in three efforts to use his Senate office and staff to advocate on behalf of Melgen’s personal and financial interests:
- Menendez allegedly pressured executive agencies in connection with a conflict between Melgen and the government of the Dominican Republic relating to a disputed contract that Melgen purchased to provide exclusive screening of containers coming through Dominican ports.
- Menendez allegedly advocated on behalf of Melgen in connection with a Medicare billing dispute worth approximately $8.9 million to Melgen.
- Menendez allegedly took active steps to support the tourist and student visa applications of three of Melgen’s girlfriends, as well as the visa application of the younger sister of one of Melgen’s girlfriends
Throughout these efforts, Menendez allegedly engaged in advocacy for Melgen all the way up to the highest levels of the U.S. government. This includes meeting with a U.S. cabinet secretary, contacting a U.S Ambassador, meeting with the heads of executive agencies and other senior executive officials and soliciting other U.S. Senators, all in order to assist Melgen’s personal and pecuniary interests.
The case is being investigated by the FBI.