A federal investigation has been launched into the financial dealings of New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez and a nonprofit agency he has helped over the years, sources said.Lest we think that this is a dog bites man story (as New Jersey politics is as sleazy as it gets), Menendez wasn't voted into office, but selected by Gov. Jon Corzine.
The U.S. attorney's office has subpoenaed the agency's records pertaining to a house once owned by then-congressman Menendez, sources told NewsChannel 4's Brian Thompson.
Menendez, a Democrat, has denied there was anything wrong with his renting the house to the North Hudson Community Action Corp. for more than $3,000 a month, even as he was working to obtain millions of dollars in federal grant money while he was a congressman.
This investigation comes at a real bad time for Menendez as he's locked in a tight battle for his Senate seat with Republican Tom Kean Jr, as ColdheartedTruth notes. Some question the timing. Well, considering that Menendez was the political boss in Union County before getting elevated to the Senate in 2006, he was able to control news coverage. Now, he is under the harsh spotlight of being in a prominent Senate campaign and has to face the music for his dealings. That wasn't likely to happen earlier - and the Democrats made sure not to permit New Jersey voters the opportunity to decide who should represent them in the Senate.
EnlightenNJ, who has been following the ethical lapses of Menendez and other New Jersey politicians for quite some time - and New Jersey papers have been on this story for some time now. RedState also wonders if Democrats will attempt to pull another geriatric politician out of retirement if things get too dicey for Menendez.
Political Wire also picks up the story.
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