Oct 26, 2022 - Politics & Policy

Menendez under federal criminal investigation again

Shawna Chen

Photo of Bob Menendez speaking while raising his right hand — Sen. Bob Menendez speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 20, 2022. Photo: Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) is under a federal criminal investigation, his adviser confirmed Wednesday.

Why it matters: The probe comes five years after the Department of Justice dropped its corruption case against Menendez, who was indicted in 2015 for allegedly offering public favors to a Florida eye doctor in exchange for lavish gifts and flights on a private jet.

Menendez had said they were old friends and denied the charges. The probe ended in a mistrial in 2017.

Driving the news: The new investigation is broadly similar to the 2017 case but involves a different group of people, according to Semafor, which first reported the probe.

What they're saying: "Senator Menendez is aware of an investigation that was reported on today, however he does not know the scope of the investigation," said Michael Soliman, an adviser to Menendez, in a statement to press after Semafor published its piece.

"As always, should any official inquiries be made, the Senator is available to provide any assistance that is requested of him or his office."

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Menendez under federal criminal investigation again

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