New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez facing new federal investigation

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., is facing a new federal investigation, an adviser confirmed Wednesday.

“Senator Menendez is aware of an investigation that was reported on today, however he does not know the scope of the investigation,” Michael Soliman said in a written statement. “As always, should any official inquiries be made, the Senator is available to provide any assistance that is requested of him or his office.”

The inquiry was first disclosed by the online news organization Semafor, which reported that the inquiry was being headed by federal prosecutors in Manhattan’s Southern District of New York.

The Manhattan office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Menendez, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, had been the subject of a corruption investigation five years ago that resulted in a mistrial.

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That investigation centered on the senator’s relationship with a Florida eye doctor, Salomon Melgen and $660,000 in campaign contributions that helped Menendez get reelected in 2012.

Menendez was accused of accepting bribes in the form of campaign contributions and luxury travel in exchange for using his office to promote Melgen’s business and personal interests with officials of President Barack Obama’s administration.

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The Justice Department later decided not to pursue a retrial of the senator in 2018.

Attorneys who handled Menendez’s previous case did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment on the new investigation.

Contributing: Herb Jackson

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