NJ's Sen. Menendez Denies He Was With Dominican Prostitutes

Sen. Robert Menendez's office says he traveled on a plane owned by a Florida physician who is a friend and political donor, but denied that the senator had engaged with prostitutes in the Dominican Republic.

The New Jersey Democrat's office issued the denial Wednesday. It said he traveled on three occasions on Dr. Salomon Melgen's airplane. The FBI searched Melgen's West Palm Beach, Fla., office Tuesday night and early Wednesday, but it was unclear if the raid was related to Menendez.

Here is the full statement from Menendez's office:

"Dr. Melgen has been a friend and political supporter of Senator Menendez for many years. Sen. Menendez has traveled on Dr. Melgen's plane on three occasions, all of which have been paid for and reported appropriately. Any allegations of engaging with prostitutes are manufactured by a politically-motivated right-wing blog and are false."

The Daily Caller, a conservative website, reported shortly before the election that Menendez traveled on Melgen's private plane to the Dominican Republic to engage in sex with prostitutes. The FBI has refused to comment on whether Menendez is under investigation.

Menendez is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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