Sen. Menendez Denies Allegations in New Reported FBI Probe

[DonViejo]

Josh Rogin

The New Jersey Democrat’s office rejected reports of an expanded investigation into corruption, involving the senator and two Ecuadorian bankers accused of fraud.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez is striking back against new corruption allegations regarding his ties to two Ecuadorian bankers who are accused of defrauding account holders in Ecuador to the tune of $100 million.

NBC News reported Thursday that the FBI has expanded its probe into Menendez to include his advocacy on behalf of William and Roberto Isaias, two Ecuadorian nationals living in Coral Gables, Fla. The Isaias brothers were convicted in absentia in Ecuador for embezzling millions as their bank, Filanbanco, collapsed in the 1990s. Menendez made phone calls and wrote letters on supporting the Isaias brothers’ desire to avoid extradition to their home country, NBC News reported, citing unnamed officials.

Family members of the Isaias brothers contributed $10,000 to Menendez’s 2012 Senate campaign and more than $100,000 to the Democratic Party that year, according to the NBC News report.

In a statement Thursday evening to The Daily Beast, Menendez spokeswoman Tricia Enright denied the senator had been involved in any quid pro quo related to the Isaias brother’s visa or asylum status and said the allegations were part of a larger effort to discredit the New Jersey Democrat.

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http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/23/sen-menendez-denies-allegations-in-new-reported-fbi-probe.html

[pscot]

1. It's hard to believe Menendez

is the best New Jersey can do.

[vi5]

2. He's not.

Neither is Corey Booker. Neither was Corzine.

But in the Democratic party in NJ money talks. It's why so many of them have kissed Christie's ass over the past bunch of years.

We have Richard Codey who was acting Governer for a while and is a great guy, an honest politician (as much as any can be) and a good leader and a good liberal. He should have run for Governer and he would have won. But the money men and party bosses wanted Corzine in there so Codey stepped aside.

We also have folks like Rush Holt who are also great.

[flamingdem]

3. Let's hope that NJ will get some housecleaning

due to the Christie scandals.

[davidpdx]

4. I feel for you guys

None of your high level government officials are decent, even the D's. Now you are stuck with Booker. I guess we'll have to see what happens with Menendez. I don't have much respect for him (or Booker) since he's calling for new sanctions against Iran.