Online Gambling Ally Robert Menendez Caught Up in ‘Prostitution’ Scandal
New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez denies having engaged in sexual activity with under age prostitutes in the Dominican Republic following allegations made by the Daily Caller, a conservative media outlet.
The FBI searched the West Palm Beach, Fla., office of the donor — eye doctor Salomon Melgen — on Tuesday night and early Wednesday, but it was unclear if the raid was related to Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday afternoon.
Menendez admits to traveling on a private plane owned by Melgen on three separate occasions but flatly denies the prostitution allegations, referring to them as "manufactured by a politically motivated right-wing blog and are false."
Menendez's office said Melgen has been a friend and political supporter of the senator for many years and that the three trips that Menendez took have been "paid for and reported appropriately."
The extent of the investigation was not immediately clear.
The New Jersey Senator became chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee replacing Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, who has been named Secretary of State.
Menendez had proposed a federal measure to legalize online gambling in 2009 and supports current legislation to allow Web gambling in his home state.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
