Menendez jurors hear about resort stays

NEWARK, N.J. — Jurors in the corruption trial of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez and a wealthy donor on Monday were shown pictures of beachside resorts and other amenities as part of the government’s narrative that those were inducements to get Menendez to flex his political muscle in Washington.

Prosecutors allege that Florida ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen funneled gifts to Menendez in exchange for the New Jersey Democrat’s help with two business disputes and, in the words of one court filing, Melgen’s “personal whims,” including U.S. visas for three foreign girlfriends.

Both men deny the allegations and contend the gifts were an expression of their longtime friendship. Menendez has argued that his interactions with government officials were legitimate efforts on broader issues.

Records showed that in September 2010, Menendez, Melgen and Melgen’s wife stayed in a boutique hotel in the Dominican Republic’s Punta Cana resort area, prosecutors said. They alleged that Melgen paid for $766 in expenses during the three-night stay. Defense attorneys showed during cross-examination that the room charge was paid for by the resort’s president, a childhood friend of Melgen’s.

Prosecutors also said Melgen spent more than $20,000 to charter a private jet in 2007 for Menendez to travel back to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic, as well as $875 for eight hours of limo service in October 2008 in the New York area.