>Congressman Rothman, Congressman Pallone, Senator Menendez and Senator Lautenberg pressured the FDA to approve of a medical device for after receiving campaign donations from the manufacturer.
Congressmen Rothman and Pallone Scandal!
4 NJ legislators Congressman Rothman, Congressman Pallone, Senator Menendez and Senator Lautenberg pressured the FDA to approve of a medical device for after receiving campaign donations from the manufacturer.
According to the New York Times:
“The agency (FDA) responded by releasing a detailed report last year that found that the agency’s scientific reviewers had repeatedly and unanimously over many years declared Menaflex unworthy of approval, but that they had been overruled by agency managers after political pressure from four Democrats from New Jersey — Senators Robert Menendez and Frank R. Lautenberg and Representatives Frank Pallone Jr. and Steven R. Rothman. The report also concluded that Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, then the agency’s commissioner, had become inappropriately involved in the decision, and that agency procedures had been bypassed. All four lawmakers made their inquiries about Menaflex after receiving significant campaign contributions from ReGen, which is based in Hackensack, N.J.
Read more here: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/15/health/policy/15fda.html?_r=3