Menendez Sold His Office to a Top Donor, Prosecutors Argue

  • Defense counters jury ‘can’t trust anything’ prosecutors say
  • Conviction could lead to succession battle in U.S. Senate

Robert Menendez

Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Senator Robert Menendez sold his office to a top donor, prosecutors argued at the end of a corruption trial that could strengthen the Republican grip on Congress if the New Jersey Democrat is convicted.

The evidence shows Menendez corruptly took gifts from Salomon Melgen, a Florida eye doctor who lavished him with trips on his private jet, a vacation in Paris and about $750,000 in campaign contributions, Justice Department attorney J.P. Cooney said Thursday.