Posted on 03/06/2015 12:36:50 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Alternate headline via Dave Weigel: “DOJ confirms that Bob Menendez is a New Jersey politician.”
There’s no louder Democratic critic of Obama’s Iran deal than Menendez and now here he is, about to be indicted. Hmmm. Maybe I spoke too soon in questioning Lee Smith’s theory that the White House has decided to start destroying the Iran-deal skeptics on its own side.
People briefed on the case say Attorney General Eric Holder has signed off on prosecutors’ request to proceed with charges, CNN has learned exclusively. An announcement could come within weeks. Prosecutors are under pressure in part because of the statute of limitation on some of the allegations…
The government’s case centers on Menendez’s relationship with Salomon Melgen, a Florida ophthalmologist who the senator has called a friend and political supporter. Melgen and his family have been generous donors to the senator and various committees the senator is associated with…
Menendez advocated on Melgen’s behalf with federal Medicare administrators who accused Melgen of overbilling the government’s healthcare program, according to court documents and people briefed on the probe. Melgen was among the top recipients of Medicare reimbursements in recent years, during a time when he was also a major Democratic donor. Melgen’s attorneys have denied any wrongdoing.
Prosecutors also are focusing on whether Menendez broke the law in advocating for Melgen’s business interest in a Dominican Republic government contract for a port screening equipment. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, at the time, considered donating port screening equipment to the Dominican Republic, which would have hurt the contract of Melgen-controlled company.
Remember Salomon Melgen? Two years ago, news of Menendez’s seemingly shady meddling on his behalf was all over righty blogs, often tangled up with accusations that went nowhere about Menendez supposedly having hired prostitutes. (The prostitution claims aren’t part of the feds’ investigation, per CNN.) Not only was there a strong stench of influence peddling surrounding their relationship, Menendez has already had to reimburse Melgen for $58,000 after it came out that the donor had allowed the senator to use his private jet. The evidence of the free flights emerged after — ta da — an FBI raid on Melgen’s offices in early 2013. The feds have been sniffing around the two of them for a long time.
In fact, I think Dan Foster’s theory of the Iran/indictment timing is closer to the mark than the White House retaliation theory:
Isn’t it just as likely Menendez knew the charges were coming down and started shouting from the rafters on his pet cause to martyr himself?
— Daniel Foster (@DanFosterType) March 6, 2015
It’s hard for a Democratic senator to accuse a Democratic president of partisanship and politicization during a long-running DOJ investigation … unless that senator has made himself a conspicuous enemy of the White House on a key policy matter. Maybe that explains, at least partly, why Menendez has been so unusually willing to throw roundhouses at O on Iran. The harder he fights, the easier it is to present suspicions over his dealings with Melgen as a frame-up rather than something legitimately criminal. Hmmm.
Exit question: If/when Menendez resigns, will Chris Christie abandon a presidential primary he can’t win and run for a Senate seat he can’t win instead?
Update: A compromise theory from Ace. Maybe he’s guilty and on Obama’s sh*t list.
i could buy it this way: Because of @SenatorMenendez's iran position, they did not bury the evidence as they would for most Dems @davereaboi
— TheClassyLife (@AceofSpadesHQ) March 6, 2015
Unlike that other NJ politician, former Senator AND governor Jon Corzine (who actually swindled hundreds of millions from investors at MF Global), Bob Menendez is not well heeled and monied enough to have contributed to Obama's campaign.
PLUS, Menendez is ON RECORD as opposing Obama's deal with Iran.
Those who don't toe the line MUST BE PUNISHED.
Tulsi Gabbard better watch out
There’s only one way out of this terrible mess ...
To remove Obama by coup .
It’s never happened before , but never before have the American voters made so great of a mistake . At the worst possible of times . I really believe , there’s no other way .
Our military needs to save the Republic .
This is a message to the rest of the corrupt dems who don’t toe the line. Nice parting shot for Holder.
How did Menendez ever survive having sex with 12 year olds story?
He was on an island in the Dom Rep with a pedophile. Who had plenty of sex parties with minors. And Menendez took lots of campaign contributions from this guy...
Waiting for the “It’s racist” charge ....
Ahhh ha! I figure out why this happened and why CNN is running the story... Menendez was against Obama’s deal with Iran... CNN would have spiked the story with out administration approval. Hell the administration likely leaked it to them.. Could also be a warning shot at the USSC not to make a “mistake” with their findings on Obamacare.
A communist rule that needs to be kept, right? Thanks, again all you twice obama voters - what you voted for is coming upon us at lightening speed. You will feel the boot on your neck sooner than later. Unfortunately, we have to suffer along side you idiots.
The troops would agree with you, but Obama has got an Army (career brown nose whore of all time) running it.
Okay, Republicans, are you going to confirm that female wretch who openly declared the Constitution to be bull$hit ?
I’ll bet you are!!
Actually, I'd kind of like to see that charge hurled at this Justice Department. Sauce for the goose and all.
That’s my take, too.
Bob’s about to find out what it’s like to be on the receiving end of Obama’s Chicago way. Obama’s using all the powers of govt to destroy anyone he wants just like despots do in 3rd world $hit-holes.
Both parties along with all the American people should come together and end this regime before things turn bloody.
Six years go by, suddenly this is a priority? Meanwhile, Slick and his fellow pedophiles remain unindicted.
Plus, he is a crook.
Anyone want to bet that this would have been ignored if Menendez had been an Obama sycophant on Iran?
guessing that salomon melgen is jewish, gives menendez a bunch of $.
obvious why menendez is against iran deal. perfect targets for the fascist regime.
What was that statement made by ValJar regarding punishing enemies?
the suits at the top are not the ones that control the systems
I know that Leo, thank God!
Maybe Ft. Marcy Park is getting full.
When I read last week that Bob Menendez was strongly opposed to Obama’s horrendous “deal” with nuclear-bound Iran and that Menendez was acting in Congress to try to stop this disaster in the making, I said to myself, “Obama’s gong to send dogs to attack or otherwise try to silence Menendez and it’ll happen within a couple of weeks.” These days, one doesn’t need to clairvoyant to make such predictions. Obama’s crew have been at the ready in their oh so selective prosecutions on all matters foreign and domestic.
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