Senator Robert Menendez, shown during a committee hearing in January, is said to face federal corruption charges. Credit Gabriella Demczuk for The New York Times
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department expects to file corruption charges against Senator Robert Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, a law enforcement official said Friday, culminating an investigation that has dogged the senator for two years.
The investigation has focused on his relationship with a Florida eye doctor who is a longtime friend and political benefactor. Federal prosecutors said Mr. Menendez did political favors for the doctor, Salomon Melgen.
A lawyer for Mr. Menendez did not immediately return a message seeking comment, but the senator and his lawyers have adamantly denied that Mr. Menendez did anything improper.
The expected charges, which were first reported by CNN, are expected in the next few weeks, the official said.
The investigation began with a tip — unproven and vehemently disputed by Mr. Menendez — that Dr. Melgen had helped pay for underage prostitutes for Mr. Menendez in the Dominican Republic. The women who made the accusations ultimately recanted, but the F.B.I. continued to investigate.
The scrutiny shifted to the senator’s relationship with Dr. Melgen and whether he traded gifts for official duties, and federal agents raided Dr. Melgen’s offices. Both men have denied doing anything improper.
The Justice Department is looking in particular at whether Mr. Menendez improperly tried to persuade Medicare to change its reimbursement policies in a way that would make millions of dollars for Dr. Melgen.
Dr. Melgen was in the midst of a billing dispute with the government over his reimbursement for Lucentis, a costly medication used to treat macular degeneration. Mr. Menendez has acknowledged urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to change its reimbursement policy but said he considered the policy unfair.
â€The bottom line is, we raised concerns with C.M.S. over policy and over ambiguities that are difficult for medical providers to understand and to seek a clarification of that and to make sure, in doing so, providers would understand how to attain themselves,†Mr. Menendez told The Associated Press in 2013.
His lawyers have also told the government that the discussions were part of the normal lawmaking process and were shielded from prosecution under the Constitution.
Source: Top Stories - Google News - http://ift.tt/1x1i8Ia
0 comments:
Post a Comment