Yesterday, the Washington Post reported that the FBI is investigating the allegations that New Jersey Democrat senator Bob Menendez frequented underage prostitutes in the Dominican Republic on trips paid for by one of his major campaign contributors. For many weeks, the WaPo has been reporting on Menendez' ethical challenges, specifically his failure to report a series of trips to Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic that were paid for by Dr. Melgen, the contributor. The WaPo has also been reporting that Menendez interceded on behalf of Melgen with federal agencies including the IRS. Menendez never reported the free trips as required by the senate rules; he claims that he "forgot" to do so for three years. After Menendez supposedly cleared the matter up, allegations leaked that there was still another of these pricey trips to the Caribbean that was still "forgotten". In all these reports, however, the WaPo basically steered clear of the prostitution allegations. Now that has changed. Of course, this being the WaPo and Manendez a Democrat, the story about the investigation contains the obligatory report that "unnamed" sources stated that there was no proof to support the allegations. Nevertheless, as things go in Washington, it is not a good sign for Menendez that the Obama FBI is leaking the fact that the investigation is underway. One never knows, but this may be part of a move to get the senator to resign to avoid a scandal. We should know for sure soon.
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