Harry Reid Sought White House Help for Menendez Donor, DOJ Says

[DonViejo]

By David Voreacos and Neil Weinberg

August 31, 2017, 8:22 AM EDT

* Obama staffer wouldn’t intervene after Reid’s phone call: U.S.

* Senator and Florida doctor face corruption trial next week

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, in trying to help a campaign donor who was accused of overbilling the government, enlisted then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to “amplify the pressure” on the Obama administration, the Justice Department said.

Reid contacted a White House staffer, who declined to help, prosecutors disclosed Wednesday in a court filing.

Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, faces a corruption trial next week with Salomon Melgen, a Florida eye doctor and close friend accused of bribing him with hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions and lavish trips in exchange for his help on government disputes.

Menendez “enlisted” Reid in November 2011 to help pressure the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, known as CMS, to reverse its ruling that Melgen owed $8.9 million for overbilling Medicare. Reid contacted a White House deputy chief of staff, prosecutors said.

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https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-31/harry-reid-sought-white-house-help-for-menendez-donor-u-s-says

[Cicada]

1. Court in Gov McConnell case ruled many bribes are legal

On appeal, Supreme court said 8 to zero that bribes are illegal only for a narrow set of government actions. That the statute wording applies only to a small number of the things an elected official does, his "official" actions. Asking the Obama administration to give the Donor a break may not be an "official" act. Voting no on SB 111 would be an official act, but asking the White House to do something? Maybe not. Maybe Menendez will catch a break on that. But his failure to report gifts seems a slam dunk for the prosecutor.