Salomon Melgen's Lawyer Says FBI Won't Say Why It Raided His Office

On Wednesday, we told you about how FBI agents raided the West Palm Beach medical office of Dr. Salomon Melgen, an eye doctor and contributor to New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, who also may or may not have provided the senator with underaged Dominican hookers. See also: - FBI...

By Chris Joseph

February 1, 2013

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On Wednesday, we told you about how FBI agents raided the West Palm Beach medical office of Dr. Salomon Melgen, an eye doctor and contributor to New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, who also may or may not have provided the senator with underaged Dominican hookers.

Now the doc's lawyer is saying that the feds haven't told them why they raided the office or what the deal is.

"The government has not informed Dr. Melgen what concerns it may have," attorney Lawrence Duffy said via email. "We are confident that Dr. Melgen has acted appropriately at all times."

It's still not clear if the raid had anything to do with Menendez, whom the Daily Caller claims not only received campaign donations from Melgen but also got free trips to the Dominican Republic on the doctor's private jet. The website alleges that Menendez had sex with underaged prostitutes in Melgen's lavish D.R. property. The senator has, of course, denied the allegations.

Along with denials, Menendez's office says he gave Melgen a personal check a few weeks ago for $58,500 to cover the cost of his plane trips to the Dominican Republic. Asked why it took him so long to pay for trips he went on three years ago, Menendez Chief of Staff Dan O'Brien said, "I'm chalking it up to an oversight."

As for Melgen, records show he owes the IRS $11.1 million for taxes from 2006. A previous IRS lien for $6.2 million was released in 2011.

Even with owing Uncle Sam, Melgen has contributed at least $357,000 to candidates and committees since 1998, including Menendez's federal campaigns. He also owns a private CL-600 Challenger plane, which he often uses to fly to and from his native Dominican Republic.

The FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services have yet to comment on the investigation.

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