The South Florida doctor under FBI investigation for Medicare fraud and political corruption in connection to Sen. Robert Menendez (D., N.J.) has many close political allies, according to the Miami Herald.
Dr. Salomon Melgen counts among his friends former President Bill Clinton and outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe, and former Sen. Chris Dodd (D., Conn.), who currently serves as chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc.
Melgen's office denied the charges in a statement, according to the Miami Herald:
"Dr. Melgen has been a friend and political supporter of Sen. Menendez for many years,’’ the statement read.
"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.’’
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) supported Menendez despite the accusations.
"Bob Menendez is my friend, he's an outstanding senator," Reid said. "Any questions in this regard direct to him. I don't know anything about it."