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Report: Grand jury investigating Sen. Robert Menendez

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    What prosecutors could be looking for

  • Duration 6:13
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We're also getting new reports today that a federal grand jury is investigating a US senator.

Namely Democrat Robert Menendez.

As questions grow over what prosecutors are looking for in this pro.

The Democrat from New Jersey caught up any controversy involving his relationship.

With the wealthy friend in Miami Florida.

And I Doctor Who made some hefty donations to senator Menendez and the Democratic Party in the last election cycle.

That burns is a former federal prosecutor and -- the spirit now so now we have been told that a -- a federal grand jury is investigating.

The senate.

Yes and you have to remember there's two types of grand Ares one is in investigating -- and the others and indicting one that's an important distinction because the porn has.

In my view this is an investigating when they've subpoenaed certain documents.

And they are looking into -- whether or not the senator took actions on behalf of this individual actions that would benefit him.

Benefit his business.

In return for things of value things like you know vacation weekends lavish meals of -- you know gifts in kind.

And and the interesting thing is you have to break it out in my view between ethics violations -- a criminal violation.

What would -- much better to be subjected to the investigative trip a grand jury -- the indicting granted to sound scary no question about it and want to turn into the other.

-- a great question and one absolutely cancer and into the other some investigating Rangers we'll issue our report you know you're familiar with that.

-- and now indictment.

The other one can be converted and after months of investigation a federal prosecutor can walk in and say at this point we have a proposed indictment.

I would like to read -- the language goes through with -- but that's you know certainly well down the road.

What takes it to this level because up to now there have been reports that senator Menendez alleged the made use of -- -- -- solicited the services of prostitutes.

In the Dominican Republic something he absolutely deny -- And then but then this.

And they said that his friend -- doctor Melvin had hooked him up with those alleged prostitutes.

But but then there was a separate business of whether he was using his senatorial powers in a way -- was improper to help his there's the ophthalmologist has run the ophthalmologist.

Because up the mother's friend did him favors you know from what I don't know whether the prostitute -- shakes out or not but but donations and and other papers.

Well you're making a great point which is that very often an investigation starts looking at one thing and then once you're on a government radar screen meg and all of the sudden.

Something else may come across the screen now -- interestingly from a PR standpoint.

The senator seems to be at least initially latching onto.

Sort of -- -- thing so -- and if that's the right word which is.

The prostitution thing has no validity and by the way objective reports seem to somewhat confirm that so therefore neither does the other one.

But that doesn't -- one does not flow from the other and in point of fact.

It does seem to be some indication.

That the senator.

AA was involved in some type -- rule regulation or legislation that could potentially benefit this individual and -- that that individual himself.

Was under scrutiny.

Four billing practices with Medicare government -- And this is this is video of the FBI raid on doctor Melton is offices back in January yes and that -- a lot of people's attention because he's such good friends with senator Menendez and and some reporters started to dig deeper -- Miami Herald has been doing some work on this in the Washington -- And started to say -- what is the connection between these two men in its turns -- senator Menendez has puzzle that a lot of pushing for legislation that would help the good doctor here and the questions then became.

Why is he doing that and and whether there was anything improper I want to ask you this -- former federal prosecutor right.

What are the odds that the feds.

Give two -- about doctor -- -- I mean is that the kind of witness that they would try to sit down and say let me tell you mr.

ophthalmologist who wanted to become so big high roller.

In the Dominican Republic.

We're not that concerned about you but if we have a US senator in there -- looking for the big -- -- absolutely so they try to flip cam what do they do.

Yeah very possibly I mean that's the reality is is that you know it's like to contain him across the board so many senators.

Any -- public officials spend weekends.

At somebody's you know expensive home meals gifts in kind and then.

The point is once they then take some action on that person's behalf then -- Clearly have an ethical problem but whether it's a crime.

You know yeah.

Point -- a lot of these -- they have friends you know what do you what does senator Menendez just good friends with doctor Belgian.

And doctor -- has a nice pad the Dominican Republic right and Dino Menendez is admitted.

That he flew down in the corporate jet he shouldn't have -- reported that he tried to make good on what's he got caught.

But you know how do you do blood drop a line between where friends and we do nice things for each other because we're friends.

Verses he's biding by eight behavior as -- US.

Said I'm gonna break it down -- -- three examples example one is.

The person in Florida hosts -- for a -- -- -- -- out to dinner and the senator does absolutely nothing example too as he hosts and hasn't had dinner and then the senator makes a phone call.

On his behalf.

I'm using the weight and cloud of being a senator just throwing a call example three made to make -- four would be.

He tries to pass some federal legislation to benefit them and then four is a wiretap orders a clear link which is I'm gonna send -- 100000 dollars if you try to introduce this legislation that's gonna help me -- -- it's just a continuum Red Cross subordinate.

Well senator Menendez absolutely did introduce some legislation or are takes an official action on behalf of this man that would help this man.

But there's a question about whether there was a quid pro quo there and he says there -- many reasons for doing it was just to help a friend.

Any event the senator says every day more evidence emerges that the false smears against senator Menendez are nothing but an elaborate campaign.

Orchestrated by Republican political operatives and they claim his office does that they welcome any.

Review because sections have always -- appropriate Doug burns we shall see.

Okay because there are -- Little background for you on senator Menendez he has been a US senator since 2006 he was a member of the house between 93 in 06.

Before that he served two years as a senator in new Jersey's state senate and he was mayor of union city New Jersey for attack.

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