The Washington Times

Menendez: Reimbursement of Caribbean flights ‘fell through the cracks’

An embattled Sen. Robert Menendez claimed his failure to reimburse taxpayers for $60,000 worth of flights to the Dominican Republic was simple oversight.

In a CNN interview, the New Jersey Democrat said he paid for the flights on board the private plane of his friend and campaign donor, Dr. Salomon Melgen, “when it came to my attention” that he ought to, Roll Call reported.

“It unfortunately fell through the cracks,” Mr. Menendez said, in the Roll Call report. “I personally paid for them in order to meet my obligations. … When it came to may attention, I did what was right.”

The trips came to light after a New Jersey Republican complained to the Senate Ethics Committee, Roll Call reported. Mr. Menendez faces spotlight because Federal Bureau of Investigations agents raided Mr. Melgen’s Florida offices last week, and various media have questioned whether the senator used his congressional office to grant business favors to Mr. Melgen. Mr. Menendez is also fighting off allegations he engaged in sex with prostitutes during trips with Mr. Melgen — a charge his office has denounced as “smears,” Roll Call reports.

© Copyright 2013 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.

About the Author
Comments
blog comments powered by Disqus

      Independent voices from the TWT Communities

      Biblical Politics

      Although contemporary American politics is an unforgiving environment, it’s still wide open to implement a legitimate worldview based on timeless Biblical values.

      The Food Commune

      We all eat, and food should be fun and healthful. Food Commune celebrates the food we eat, the people we eat with and the spirits we enjoy.

      Media Migraine

      First over-the-counter column approved for fast and effective relief from even your worst media-induced headache.