<><> Three decades ago Menendez testified in the federal trial of his political mentor, William Musto, who was charged with racketeering, extortion and fraud. Musto was sentenced to seven years in prison in 1982. M3enendez was Musto's aide.
<><>Menendez has received political donations from people who admitted to using straw donors to exceed legal limits.
<><> Menendez was investigated in a rent-for-influence deal in 2006 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. As landlord for a non-profit organization in Newark, Menendez collected more than $300,000 in rent. While a member of the U.S. House, he helped the agency paying the rent to get federal grants. Employees of the agency contributed $33,450 to Menendez’s campaigns.
The lease stated the agency’s ability to pay was dependent on the agency getting certain federal or state funding. Menendez said he had permission from Mark Davis of the House Ethics Committee in 1994 before entering the lease. A Capitol Hill publication said David didn’t work there then. And when the agreement became public Dzavis had died.
<><> CIRCA 2006 Donald Scarinci forged an alliance with Sen. Robert Menendez---and saw his legal career take off as governments and govt agencies, and then private-sector clients flocked to his North Jersey firm. The Scarinci firm earned countless millions in fees from government agencies and county govt - including $2.88 million in four years from New Jersey's Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. But in 2006 a huge setback for Scarinci emerged and a political problem for Menendez. Menendez's Senate campaign announced it was severing ties with Scarinci, a close adviser and fund-raiser, after disclosure of a surreptitious 1999 tape recording on which Scarinci appears to pressure a government vendor to hire a Menendez ally--- latino doctor Oscar Sandoval.
<><> Menendez's daughter worked for Scarinci but left when the furor erupted.
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Sen Menendez is chairman of the Senate subcommittee that holds sway over the Dominican Republic.He pressured officials in the US State and Commerce Depts to intervene so that the DR port contract would be enforced, at an estimated value of $500 million.
PLAIN AS THE NOSE ON YOUR FACE--Menendez, Meglen and Dominican Republic honchos have a secret deal that will profit them hundreds of millions of dollars.
Menendez used govt resources, govt authority and his privileged position to convene a special hearing on the port deal---he was the only Senator present but the hearing had the full force of the US govt.
Menendez dragged Obama administration officials up to the Hill for questioning---pressuring officials about why the Dominican Republic port deal had not gone through.
The New York Times quotes Menendez at the hearing: "You have another company that has 'American investors' that is seeking to - has a contract actually given to it by the - kind of ratified by the Dominican Congress to do X-ray of all of the cargo that goes through the ports, which have been problematic and for which in the past narcotics have been included in those cargo," the senator said.
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Many people wondered what Booby Menendez's son was doing as an UNSALARIED hanger-on at the Port Authority of NY-NJ.
The PA/NJ/NY is a notorious corruption hellhole rife w/ cronies/campaign contributors, and that ilk---all of the pol/crud bilking taxpayers/tollpayers for zillions.
Now the Dominican Republic Port Authority deal----and the connection to Daddy Menendez and Sonny Menendez hanging around the NY/NJ Port Authority-----sheds more light on the Menendezs' sub rosa doings here and offshore. L/E needs to scrutinize this ASAP.
ping