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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSenator Menendez is looking worse and worse
WASHINGTON Senator Robert Menendez sought to discourage any plan by the United States government to donate port security equipment to the Dominican Republic, citing concern that the advanced screening gear might undermine efforts by a private company run by a major campaign contributor and friend of his to do the work.
The intervention with the Department of Homeland Security last month came even though Mr. Menendez has publicly chastised the Obama administration for not doing more to combat the surging drug traffic moving through Dominican ports.
And it came shortly after the senators friend, Dr. Salomon E. Melgen, arranged to meet with a senior State Department official, accompanied by a former aide to Mr. Menendez, in a related push to protect the port security contract, which is worth as much as $500 million over 20 years.
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Nobody has bought me, No. 1. Nobody. Never, Mr. Menendez said in an interview late last week with Univision, the Spanish-language news station. In the 20 years that I have been in Congress, never has it been suggested that this could even be possible.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/11/us/politics/menendez-discouraged-giving-port-security-equipment-to-dominicans.html?pagewanted=all
senseandsensibility
(17,138 posts)Never has it been suggested that anyone could "buy" him? Well, it's being suggested now, and if he has facts that show he hasn't been, now is the time to produce them.
Puzzledtraveller
(5,937 posts)I know how it looks but there are so many out there more worthy to serve the people than those who abuse their office. I know some here may scoff at me for this.
Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)To DUers' credit, I have not seen much defense of Menendez here.
hay rick
(7,641 posts)Now he's making phone calls and sending e-mails on behalf of a campaign contributor? Yawn.