TRENTON, N.J. (AP) 鈥� U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat who avoided conviction on corruption charges five years ago, is reportedly the subject of a new federal investigation.
An adviser for the senator, Michael Soliman, acknowledged the probe in a statement Wednesday.
鈥淪enator Menendez is aware of an investigation that was reported on today, however he does not know the scope of the investigation," he said. "As always, should any official inquiries be made, the Senator is available to provide any assistance that is requested of him or his office.鈥�
The startup news organization Semafor reported Wednesday that federal prosecutors based in Manhattan had contacted people connected to Menendez in recent weeks, citing two people familiar with the inquiry.
Those people didn't provide detail on what the investigation was about or what sort of alleged wrongdoing was involved.
The U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan declined to comment. Menendez's Senate office referred to Soliman's statement.
Menendez was , accused of abusing his office to help a Florida eye doctor who had given him lavish gifts 鈥� including trips on a private plane to a Dominican resort and a Paris vacation.
Prosecutors said the senator had pressured government officials to resolve a Medicare billing dispute in a way favorable to the doctor, Salomon Melgen. They said Menendez also helped get U.S. visas for the doctor鈥檚 girlfriends and worked to protect a contract Melgen had to provide port screening equipment.
Menendez鈥檚 attorneys argued that Melgen鈥檚 gifts were tokens of their longtime friendship, not bribes. Menendez paid for some of the trips he took to Melgen鈥檚 resort in the Dominican Republic.
A jury deadlocked on the charges in 2017. Menendez. The senator maintained his innocence and in 2018.
Melgen was convicted on health care fraud charges in Florida, but former President Donald Trump during his final days in office. A White House statement at the time credited Menendez with backing clemency.
The Associated Press
