Former aide testifies Menendez helped co-defendant on visas

ABC News ^ | Sept 11, 2017 | David Porter

[ptsal]

A former staffer for U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez testified Monday that the Democrat helped with the visa applications of friends of a wealthy doctor who faces bribery charges with him, while defense attorneys sought to show Menendez's actions were unremarkable and part of the duties of his office.

Under direct questioning from the government, former senior policy adviser Mark Lopes testified Menendez emailed him in 2008 authorizing a letter of support from Menendez to be sent to consular officials regarding the visa applications of two sisters from the Dominican Republic.

*snip*Earlier Monday, a vice president for American Express testified Melgen used about 650,000 AmEx points to pay for a Paris hotel room for Menendez in 2010. Menendez had about 58,000 points in his AmEx account at the time, and prosecutors want to show he tapped his wealthy friend in order to stay in a $1,500-per-night hotel as part of the bribery scheme.

[ptsal]

That's a lot of points to redeem.

[samadams2000]

Part of his duties were largesse and graft?

[DaxtonBrown]

This is the tip of the Iceberg. I’ve been telling you all, this should lead to Harry Reid, who is far more guilty. Hopefully this sets the avalanche in motion.

[Impy]

That’s probably what Harry Reid told him at his freshman orientation.

[jazusamo]

The most serious charge Menendez and Melgen each face, honest services fraud, carries a maximum 20-year sentence.

Sounds right to me, maybe a tad light. If convicted the two pals could spend the rest of their lives together.

[Leep]

Part of his duties were largesse and graft?

Yes, keep in mind that he is a democrat. The law does not apply to them. See the 28th Ammendment of the USC.

[Puppage]

He should never been a senator. NJ law says you can’t change the candidate inside of 56 days of an election after The Torch bailed, the NJ dems put forth Menendez...illegally.

[posterchild]

What type of visas? tourist?, L1?, H2-b?, DIV?

[Jacquerie]

I’d forgotten about that. A federal(?) court ordered the rat candidate, Menendez to appear on the ballot. It was ordered to protect the two-party system doncha’ know.

[Alberta's Child]

That’s the other New Jersey senator. The Torricelli seat is the one now held by Corey Booker. It wasn’t Menendez who was put on the ballot illegally; it was that old fossil Frank Lautenberg.

[Liz]

OBAMA NAMED MENENDEZ HIS POINT MAN FOR AMNESTY
THE AMNESTY PROTECTION RACKET BEGINS HERE

NOTE: The Senate Immigration "Reform" Bill Protected Crooked Latino
Public Officials in US positions from prosecution for wrongdoing in elective and appointive office.

DC Gala--Ntl Assoc of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials
L-R--Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)--now under indictment;
Dr Salomon Melgen, VOXXI Chman (now incarcerated);
Rep Nancy Pelosi (D-CAL); San Francisco
J. Sanchez, US Under Secy of Commerce for Intl Trade,
Emilio Sanchez, Pres/CEO of VOXXI.
(Photo/Voxxi---Melgen's ethnic solidarity web site)

[Liz]

POLITICO revealed that Dr Melgen assiduously courted President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, but that Melgen was unhappy with the return on his campaign donation "investments."

After meeting briefly with Obama at a 2010 fundraiser that Dr Melgen paid $30,400 to co-host, the eye doctor complained that “Obama didn’t even give him the time of day,” according to a source who travels in the same Miami political circles as Melgen.

The source said Melgen also expressed frustration that he couldn’t take his concerns about his questionable Medicare billing practices directly to Obama’s Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius.

“He was ranting about HHS and Sebelius not understanding and not wanting to listen to him and not giving him a hearing,” said the source, who did not want to be identified WRT revealing the contents of private conversations.

Dr Melgen and friend.

[exit82]

Actually, it was Lautenberg that they resurrected and had him put on the ballot in clear contravention of the law.

But the Supreme Court of NJ said there had to be competition on the ballot, even though there were FOUR other candidates on the ballot who met the requirements to run.

They pulled that ruling right out of their ass.

Which is pretty much how justice is dispensed in NJ anyway.

[Liz]

Menendez intervened to assist the eye doctor (currently incarcerated) in a separate, stalled business contract involving port security.

FACTS ON FILE---Sen Menendez abused his position---he used US govt authority and govt resources...... and his privileged Senate position...... to force approval of Dr Melgen's lucrative port cargo deal into fruition. The so-called "port security” deal meant big bucks.

(NOTE earlier reports say Central America drug cartels smuggle drugs into the US undetected ---- secreted in Dominican port cargo containers without supervision).

============================================

Dr Melgen assiduously courted President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, but Melgen expected a major suckup for his money---he was unhappy with the return on his campaign donation "investments."

New Jersey Senator Menendez's long-time personal, political and financial ties to Floridian Dr Salomon Melgen came under close scrutiny after an FBI raid at the doctor's West Palm Beach, Fla, offices.

[BobL]

The sad thing about this for Mendez is that if he had simply supported Obama’s Cuba policy none of this would be happening.

[Puppage]

Aaaaah, you’re right. Thank you.

[Williams]

No, the NJ Supreme Court did it. Said it wasn’t fair to the voters if the Democrat could lose.

[JayGalt]

Prosecutors have also said Melgen enlisted the senator’s help in securing tourist and student visas for three women the doctor knew. Lopes said he was involved in the visa applications for two of them, as well as one woman’s sister.

[Williams]

Yes Lautenberg, who was a miserable human being and literally did nothing during his entire long tenure as a senator. Yet elected and reelected for no good reason except he’s a democrat and NJ is a victim of immigration.

[raiderboy]

I hope they have a case. So far this stinks.