Menendez Allegations Could Derail Immigration Reform Talks
Scandalous allegations surrounding New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez are putting
the Democratic senator and leaders in a tough place as his party engages in an
all-out effort to revamp the nation’s immigration laws.
Menendez is the
only Hispanic Democrat in the Senate, and is the new chairman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, so he’s widely seen as the point man in the
comprehensive immigration reform battle, reports the
Hill.
However, Menendez is at the center of a line of bad news,
including allegations he went to the Dominican Republic with a donor and hired
underaged prostitutes. He is part of a Senate Ethics probe and an FBI
investigation of a key campaign donor.
The senator is denying the
allegations, claiming they are politically motivated. Key Democrats aren’t
commenting, beyond a few supportive words. But as the investigation grows,
there’s a great likelihood that Republicans will start calling for him to step
down – although none have yet made that call.
“Sen. Menendez has traveled
on Dr. Melgen’s plane on three occasions, all of which have been paid for and
reported appropriately,” said Menendez’s office in a statement. “Any allegations
of engaging with prostitutes are manufactured by a politically motivated
right-wing blog and are false.”
Menendez has not personally addressed the
allegations.
Menendez Allegations Could Derail Immigration Reform Talks | Political Thrill
