Carl Hiaasen: It was a bro-mance, not corruption
BY CARL HIAASEN
Miami HeraldApril 20, 2015
Sen. Robert Menendez says he’s angry because federal prosecutors “don’t know the difference between friendship and corruption.”
The New Jersey Democrat is upset about being indicted on fraud and bribery charges for allegedly using his political clout to benefit his longtime pal, Dr. Salomon Melgen of West Palm Beach, Fla.
Melgen was also charged in the bribery case, and has separately been indicted for epic Medicare fraud. Like Menendez, Melgen says he has committed no crimes.
Except for the super-sized favors they did for each other, the friendship between the powerful U.S. senator and the multimillionaire eye surgeon really isn’t so different from any ordinary bro-romance.
If your best buddy needed a few bucks, you’d be there for him, right?
When Menendez last ran for re-election, Melgen donated $700,000 to a political action committee that gave $582,000 to the senator’s campaign – a heartfelt gesture with absolutely no strings attached, according to the doctor and the senator.
And when the government forced Melgen to return almost $9 million that he’d overbilled Medicare for eye procedures, it was nothing but personal devotion that motivated Menendez to start sending emails and making calls, trying to get the money back for his favorite ophthalmologist.
Read more here: https://www.bradenton.com/2015/04/20/5755527/carl-hiaasen-it-was-a-bro-mance.html#storylink=cpy
