Tag: salomon melgen

Sen. Robert Menendez a subject of grand jury investigation.

I do not see how this could possibly end badly for the …can we call him ’embattled,’ yet?  Yes,  let’s! …embattled New Jersey Democrat*.

A federal grand jury in Miami is investigating Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), examining his role in advocating for the business interests of a wealthy donor and friend, according to three people aware of the probe.

Menendez has intervened in matters affecting the financial interests of Florida ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen, seeking to apply pressure on the Dominican government to honor a contract with Melgen’s port security company, documents and interviews show. Also, Menendez’s office has acknowledged he interceded with federal health-care officials after they said that Melgen had overbilled the U.S. government for care at his clinic.

Melgen has provided Menendez with plane flights and hospitality at his Dominican vacation home, say people acquainted with their relationship.

Continue reading Sen. Robert Menendez a subject of grand jury investigation.

Salomon Melgen (Bob Menendez crony) has an apparently questionable past.

This is, um, going to be an interesting week.

The resume of Dr. Salomon Melgen, a Florida-based ophthalmologist and controversial Democratic donor, boasts medical education and experience at Harvard University, Yale University, and the University of Missouri.

But none of those schools says it can find any record of Melgen, who claims to be a Harvard alumnus, the former chief resident of the University of Missouri’s ophthalmology department, and a former Yale intern.

Not be cute, here… well, yes, I am trying to be cute here, but it’s still a valid question: did Senator Bob Menendez REALLY accept plane rides from a foreign-born campaign donor without discreetly doing a basic background check first?  I mean: Menendez is on the freaking Foreign Affairs committee. He’s taking free rides from a guy.  Simple caution might have suggested that the Senator at least make sure that he wasn’t being set up for some kind of scam.

And while I’m still trying to be cute while still asking legitimate questions, here’s another one: doesn’t any of this worry Democrats?  At least a little, and in relation to the very, very powerful Senate committee that Menendez is scheduled to take over? – Particularly since Menendez is also credibly being linked to a multimillion dollar contract dispute that Melgen is having with the Dominican Republic.  Surely at least that should be setting off warning bells in Democratic heads…