This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-democratic-senator-robert-menendez-indicted-on-corruption-charges-10150499.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
US Democratic Senator Robert Menendez indicted on corruption charges US Democratic Senator Robert Menendez indicted on corruption charges
(35 minutes later)
US Democratic Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey was indicted on corruption charges, allegations that the high-ranking lawmaker said he would address at a news conference on Wednesday night. A leading Democratic senator, Robert Menendez, has been indicted on corruption charges for allegedly taking gifts and campaign contributions in exchange for helping a friend get visas for his “several girlfriends” and in business.
The US Department of Justice said in a statement that Menendez, 61, was indicted in New Jersey along with his friend and Democratic Party donor, Salomon Melgen, a Florida ophthalmologist. Mr Menendez, a former chairman of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, is accused of taking money and gifts worth nearly $1m (£670,000) to “influence the outcome” of Medicare and contractual billing disputes worth tens of millions of dollars to his friend, Salomon Melgen an ophthalmologist from Florida.
One of the highest profile Hispanic politicians in the country and a strong voice in US foreign relations, Menendez is accused of accepting gifts from Melgen, 61, in exchange for using the power of his Senate office to benefit Melgen's financial and personal interests, the Justice Department said. He also allegedly supported visa applications by “several of Melgen’s girlfriends”, the US Department of Justice said in a statement.
The two men were charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of violating the travel act, eight counts of bribery and three counts of honest services fraud, the Justice Department said, correcting an earlier statement citing seven bribery counts. “Menendez allegedly engaged in three efforts to use his Senate office and staff to advocate on behalf of Melgen’s personal and financial interests,” the statement said.
Menendez was also charged with one count of making false statements. “First, 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. 
Between January 2006 and January 2013, the department said, citing allegations in the indictment, “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.” “Second, Menendez allegedly advocated on behalf of Melgen in connection with a Medicare billing dispute worth approximately $8.9m to Melgen.
The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Menendez has denied any wrongdoing. His office said in a statement that he will speak at a news conference in Newark, New Jersey at 7 p.m. (2300 GMT). “Third, 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.”
Political science professor Matthew Hale at Seton Hall University in New Jersey said, “It is important to remember that Senator Menendez grew up in the rough and tumble rink of North Jersey politics ... He knows how to fight and I suspect he will fight these charges.” The Justice Department said that Mr Menendez, 61, “allegedly engaged in advocacy for Melgen all the way up to the highest levels of the US government, including meeting with a US cabinet secretary, contacting a US Ambassador, meeting with the heads of executive agencies and other senior executive officials and soliciting other US Senators, all in order to assist Melgen’s personal and pecuniary interests”.
For some time, federal authorities have been investigating Menendez's relationship with Melgen, who has been accused of overbilling the government's Medicare program. The gifts included flights on Mr Melgen’s private jet and other air travel, holidays at Mr Melgen’s villa in the Dominican Republic and at a Paris hotel, and $40,000 (about £27,000) in contributions to his legal defence fund and over $750,000 (about £500,000) in campaign contributions. 
Menendez, who is Cuban-American, was re-elected to a second term in the Senate in 2012. He spent 13 years in the US House of Representatives. “Menendez never disclosed any of the reportable gifts that he received from Melgen on his financial disclosure forms,” the Justice Department added.
“As we have said before, we believe all of the senator's actions have been appropriate and lawful, and the facts will ultimately confirm that,” Tricia Enright, Menendez's communications director, said on March 6, responding to early reports that federal prosecutors were close to bringing charges. Mr Menendez and Mr Melgen were charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of violating the travel act, eight counts of bribery and three counts of honest services fraud, the Justice Department said. Mr Menendez was also charged with one count of making false statements.
Reuters The New Jersey senator has denied any wrongdoing with his spokeswoman saying his actions had been “appropriate and lawful” when it was first reported that he might face charges.
Political science professor Matthew Hale at Seton Hall University in New Jersey told Reuters: “It is important to remember that Senator Menendez grew up in the rough and tumble rink of North Jersey politics... He knows how to fight and I suspect he will fight these charges.”
Reuters contributed to this report