He may be facing bribery charges and calls for his resignation from more than half of his Senate Democratic colleagues. But donors can still hit the links and dine with Sen. Bob Menendez at a luxurious beachside hotel – for a price.
A political action committee tied to Menendez is hosting donors in two weeks for an evening reception with the senator and his chief of staff at the Ritz-Carlton hotel at Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico – a move likely to prompt Democratic fears that the embattled senator will try to hang onto his seat despite his criminal charges.
On Thursday, just as Menendez went behind closed doors to inform Senate Democrats he would not resign and proclaimed his innocence, a representative with the New Jersey Democrat’s leadership PAC wrote to donors that the event was still on, according to a copy of the invitation obtained by CNN.
The message confirmed that the mid-October retreat, hosted by the New Millennium PAC, was still happening “in light of recent events.”
As part of the two-day event: A Friday evening welcome reception with Menendez at the Ritz, followed by a Saturday morning golf outing with the senator on the East Course, a championship-level course with views of the ocean and lush greens and fairways. There’s lunch with the senator’s chief of staff that day followed by a farewell reception with the senator in the evening.
Officials with the leadership PAC and Menendez didn’t respond to requests for comment.
The news comes as Menendez has been coy about his reelection plans, despite facing corruption charges and unseemly allegations that he used his powerful perch to aid three businessmen and the government of Egypt in exchange for cash, a luxury car and gold bars. Menendez, along with his wife, Nadine, and other co-defendants, have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Democrats are…
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