This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/08/new-jersey-robert-menendez-cuba-prostitution-sex--allegations

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
New Jersey senator Robert Menendez alleges Cuba behind sex allegations New Jersey senator Robert Menendez alleges Cuba behind sex allegations
(about 1 month later)
New Jersey senator Robert Menendez has urged the US Justice Department to investigate claims that the Cuban government may have plotted to smear him with allegations that he slept with underage women in the Dominican Republic.New Jersey senator Robert Menendez has urged the US Justice Department to investigate claims that the Cuban government may have plotted to smear him with allegations that he slept with underage women in the Dominican Republic.
Menendez, a Democrat and the son of Cuban migrants, has been battling the allegations that he paid for sex since November 2012 when the conservative Daily Caller website first published them. From the outset, Menendez vehemently denied the allegations, dismissing them as "smears". Menendez, a Democrat and the son of Cuban migrants, has been battling the allegations that he paid for sex since November 2012 when the conservative Daily Caller website first published them. From the outset, Menendez vehemently denied the allegations, dismissing them as "smears".
The Washington Post reported on Monday that Menendez's attorney sent a letter to Justice Department officials, asking them to "pursue evidence obtained by US investigators that the Cuban government concocted an elaborate plot to smear him with allegations that he cavorted with underage prostitutes".The Washington Post reported on Monday that Menendez's attorney sent a letter to Justice Department officials, asking them to "pursue evidence obtained by US investigators that the Cuban government concocted an elaborate plot to smear him with allegations that he cavorted with underage prostitutes".
Menendez's spokeswoman urged federal officials to follow up on the reports.Menendez's spokeswoman urged federal officials to follow up on the reports.
"The Washington Post's report that the CIA has concluded a foreign intelligence service sought to manipulate US policy by spreading false rumors to the FBI and to media outlets is extremely disturbing," the senator's communications director Tricia Enright said in a statement to the Huffington Post."The Washington Post's report that the CIA has concluded a foreign intelligence service sought to manipulate US policy by spreading false rumors to the FBI and to media outlets is extremely disturbing," the senator's communications director Tricia Enright said in a statement to the Huffington Post.
"We hope the Department of Justice and other appropriate federal agencies will investigate this matter aggressively and hold anyone involved fully accountable.""We hope the Department of Justice and other appropriate federal agencies will investigate this matter aggressively and hold anyone involved fully accountable."
The senator's lawyer apparently claimed in the letter that the allegations were fabricated by the Cuban government to malign Menendez, the chairman of the Senate committee on foreign relations, and a staunch critic of the Castro regime.The senator's lawyer apparently claimed in the letter that the allegations were fabricated by the Cuban government to malign Menendez, the chairman of the Senate committee on foreign relations, and a staunch critic of the Castro regime.
In the run-up to the November 2012 elections, the Daily Caller published a report based on accounts form two unidentified Dominican women that claimed Menendez had solicited them for sex while on vacation in the country. Months later, in March 2013, the Washington Post reported that one of the women recanted, and told Dominican authorities that both women had been paid to make up the sex claims.In the run-up to the November 2012 elections, the Daily Caller published a report based on accounts form two unidentified Dominican women that claimed Menendez had solicited them for sex while on vacation in the country. Months later, in March 2013, the Washington Post reported that one of the women recanted, and told Dominican authorities that both women had been paid to make up the sex claims.
The accusations had apparently corroborated accounts from an informant under the pseudonym "Pete Williams", who told FBI agents that Menendez had taken part in sex parties with underage women at the home of Salomon Melgen, a wealthy eye doctor, friend and big donor of the senator.The accusations had apparently corroborated accounts from an informant under the pseudonym "Pete Williams", who told FBI agents that Menendez had taken part in sex parties with underage women at the home of Salomon Melgen, a wealthy eye doctor, friend and big donor of the senator.
But a former US official with "first-hand knowledge of government intelligence", speaking anonymously to the Post, cast doubt on the tipster's credibility. The official told the Post that "intelligence information indicated that operatives from Cuba’s directorate of intelligence helped create a fake tipster using the name 'Pete Williams'".But a former US official with "first-hand knowledge of government intelligence", speaking anonymously to the Post, cast doubt on the tipster's credibility. The official told the Post that "intelligence information indicated that operatives from Cuba’s directorate of intelligence helped create a fake tipster using the name 'Pete Williams'".
Aside from the sex allegations, Menendez still faces accusations of political misconduct, specifically of wielding his political power to benefit Melgen's business interests. He denies wrongdoing in all the cases.Aside from the sex allegations, Menendez still faces accusations of political misconduct, specifically of wielding his political power to benefit Melgen's business interests. He denies wrongdoing in all the cases.
The friendship between the eye doctor and Menendez prompted investigations by the Senate ethics committee and the Justice Department. The pair vacation together in the Dominican Republic, Melgen's native country. In 2013, Menendez paid Melgen $58,500 to reimburse him for trips on a private jet that the senator had neglected to report. The friendship between the eye doctor and Menendez prompted investigations by the Senate ethics committee and the Justice Department. The pair vacation together in the Dominican Republic, Melgen's native country. In 2013, Menendez paid Melgen $58,500 to reimburse him for trips on a private jet that the senator had neglected to report.