Senate Ethics Committee closes case against Menendez

Source: Politico



By MATT FRIEDMAN 02/05/2019 10:38 AM EST

The Senate Ethics Committee has closed its file on Sen. Bob Menendez, putting a formal end to the ethics controversies that had dogged the New Jersey Democrat for more than six years.

The committee last spring admonished Menendez over gifts he had received — but had not initially disclosed or repaid — from Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen, a close personal friend who is now serving a lengthy prison sentence for Medicare fraud.

In all, Menendez repaid Melgen $112,418 for private jet flights, lodging and car transportation in 2006, 2008 and 2010, according to a document the senator sent to the committee that was obtained by POLITICO. All but about $2,000 of that was repaid by 2014.

“Having already received documentation that all impermissible gifts have been repaid, the Committee hereby considers this matter closed,” reads a Feb. 1 letter signed by Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), the committee chairman and Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), the vice chairman.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/states/new-jersey/story/2019/02/05/senate-ethics-committee-closes-case-against-menendez-837175