Menéndez probe moves to New Jersey

Here’s an interesting piece of news to report on the Bob Menendez/Salomon Melgen duo. As most know by now the two friends, one an influential U.S. senator and the other a high profile South Florida eye doctor, are embroiled in investigations dealing with the FBI, IRS, political influence, Medicare and even a tinge of prostitution. The latest information, according to The Daily Caller, who broke the news of what has now become an international scandal, is that the FBI inquiry is now based in New Jersey, not Miami.

Why is this important?

New Jersey is Menendez’s home state, which tells me the probe may be taking a strong turn towards the senator. In other words, the Medicare charges and the $11 million owed the IRS is still a Dr. Melgen problem, no doubt. But when the feds move their operation from the doctor’s home state and focus in on the politician’s place of business… like I recently mentioned, Menendez must be sweating bullets.

As reported by The Daily Caller, “One source, a current agent in an East Coast field office, declined to be quoted but told TheDC that the initial investigation began in Miami and was later moved to Newark, New Jersey.”

Confirming the investigation of Menendez, a New Jersey website, PolitickerNJ, is reporting that “Agents from the FBI have had no contact with U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez to date despite reports that there is an active investigation that involves him, two sources close to the senator said.”

I believe it may be time to heed the advice offered by The New York Times in a recent editorial which states: “It is unclear whether the Senate Ethics Committee has initiated a formal inquiry into Mr. Menendez’s conduct, but a prompt and thorough review is surely called for. In the meantime, Mr. Menendez needs to relinquish his leadership role, at least temporarily.”

Alvaro F. Fernandez