Justice department outlines fraud case against Menendez

  • Bob Menendez faces a corruption trial next week with Salomon Melgen 
  • Prosecutors say Melgen donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to help Menendez’s political campaign and legal defense fund
  • Also say he paid for expensive trips in exchange for help with business disputes
  • Their trial begins on September 6 in federal court in Newark, New Jersey 

Email correspondence, flights, hotel bills and credit card statements will all be used as evidence of an alleged bribery scheme carried out for seven years by Democratic New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez.

Menendez faces a corruption trial next week with Salomon Melgen, a Florida eye doctor and close friend.

Prosecutors say Melgen donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to help Menendez’s political campaign and legal defense fund, and paid for expensive trips for the senator in exchange for help with business disputes. 

Bob Menendez (pictured) and his close friend Salomon Melgen are accused of having a ‘quid pro quo’ relationship going as far back as 2006

The outline of the Justice Department’s case came one week before the trial begins on September 6 in federal court in Newark, New Jersey. 

Menendez and Melgen have been charged with 18 counts of fraud and bribery crimes. 

Both have entered a plea of not guilty.  

Defense lawyers for Menendez and Melgen complained prosecutors filed a ‘lengthy, lurid and one-sided narrative of the case’ that includes ‘new, irrelevant and inflammatory ‘facts.’

Menendez and Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen (pictured) are charged with multiple fraud and bribery counts

Menendez and Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen (pictured) are charged with multiple fraud and bribery counts

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said Menendez ‘deserves a presumption of innocence’ heading into his upcoming corruption trial.

Speaking on Wednesday on MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’ program, the Republican governor said the 63-year-old New Jersey Democrat should have an impartial trial before a jury of his peers. 

The former U.S. attorney says the job of the federal prosecutor is to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Opening statements in the Menendez trial are scheduled for Sept. 6.

Menendez and Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen are charged with multiple fraud and bribery counts.  

Both men have denied there was any bribery arrangement.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk