Menendez math: $58,000 = $1,000,000

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez is arguing that the $58,000 he reimbursed to Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen for private jet flights, prior to his corruption trial, covers the almost $1 million in extravagant gifts and contributions that the Senate Ethics Committee ordered he repay, according to report at Politico.

“I think the Ethics Committee was unaware that there were a series of payments that were made before they continued their review,” Menendez said.

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Senator Menendez Severely Admonished By Ethics Committee

The U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics issued a four page letter today, signed by all six committee members, three Democrats and three Republicans, that “several admonished” New Jersey’s senior senator for his violations of Senate ethics rules, federal law and his conduct which reflected discredit on the Senate.

The committee found that Menendez accepted valuable gifts from Dr. Salomon Melgen including travel on private jets and commercial airlines, luxury hotel stays and vacations at Melgen’s luxurious villa in the Dominican Republic without Committee approval and without disclosing the gifts as required by law.

They found that Menendez used his office to advance Melgan’s personal and business interests. Read the rest of this entry »

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Bob Hugin wins Monmouth GOP endorsement for U.S. Senate

Rich Pezzullo gets the CD-6 endorsement by acclamation 

Former Celgene CEO Bob Hugin won the endorsement of the Monmouth County Republican Committee for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination tonight besting Brian Goldberg by a margin of 121-17. Read the rest of this entry »

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Suspense heading into the Monmouth GOP Convention

Will Bob Hugin wear a tie?

Bob Hugin and Rich Pezzullo

Bob Hugin, center, with Freeholder Pat Impreveduto, left, and Freeholder Gerry Scharfenberg, right

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Monmouth County Freeholders Endorse Bob Hugin For U.S. Senate

Bob Hugin, center, with Freeholder Pat Impreveduto, left, and Freeholder Gerry Scharfenberg, right

The Monmouth County Republican Committee is holding a convention tonight, March 15, VFW Post 2179 on Rt 36 in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown.  The purpose of the convention is to endorse candidates for the United States Senate and for the House of Representatives in the 6th Congressional District.

Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone, Deputy Director Lillian Burry, and Freeholders Patrick Impreveduto and Gerry Scharfenberger issued the following joint statement endorsing Bob Hugin for the Republican nomination to represent New Jersey in the United States Senate: Read the rest of this entry »

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Hugin Wins Ocean GOP Endorsement, Goldberg loses endorsements he didn’t have

Bob Hugin accepts the endorsement for U.S. Senate from the Ocean GOP. Chairman George Gilmore in the background. photo by Mike Ward

Former Celgene CEO Bob Hugin won the U.S. Senate endorsement of the Ocean County Republican Party tonight in Toms River, defeating the Ocean GOP’s 2014 nominee, Brian Goldberg, by a margin of 142-12.

“Ocean County delivers the highest number of Republican votes of any county in New Jersey and we are fully behind Bob Hugin,” said OCGOP Chairman George Gilmore. “We need a Senator that New Jersey can be proud of again, and we are confident Bob is that person.  We will deliver for Bob and all of our GOP candidates on November 6th.”

“I’m honored and proud to receive the formal endorsement of the Ocean County Republican Organization,” said Bob Hugin. “My parents instilled in me the values of service to community and country at a young age.  I’ve lived those values as a US Marine and business leader, and will do the same as our next United States Senator.”  Read the rest of this entry »

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Pezzullo to challenge Pallone

Rich Pezzullo

Conservative businessman Rich Pezzullo announced last night that he will seek the GOP nomination to challenge Congressman Frank Pallone in the 6th Congressional District of New Jersey (parts of Monmouth and Middlesex counties).

Pezzullo declared his candidacy at the Middlesex County Republican Women’s Club’s annual Reagan Day celebration.

“We can no longer allow enemies of American progress like Frank Pallone to represent us when he and others like him are spending every day trying to hold our nation back. I am challenging him because I believe that the Sixth District deserves so much better — a representative they can rely on, that they can be proud of,” Pezzullo told the gathering. “Pallone was elected to Congress 30 years ago and has not accomplished anything. He is too far left even for his own rabidly leftist party. Isn’t it time for a Congressman who will work for a living?” Read the rest of this entry »

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Hugin Expected To Make U.S. Senate Candidacy Official On Tuesday

Bob Hugin

Bob Hugin, the recently retired Executive Chairman of Celgene Corporation, has scheduled two announcement events for Tuesday, February 13, MMM has learned.

Republican insiders widely expect Hugin to announce that he will be a candidate for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate.

The first event is scheduled to take place at the Springfield Elks Club at 10 a.m.  The afternoon event will be in Burlington County at VFW Post 3020 in Delran, 2 p.m.

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Pezzullo Says He Will Support Hugin For U.S. Senate

Bob Hugin and Rich Pezzullo

Rich Pezzullo declared that he would suspend his candidacy for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate if Bob Hugin, the recently retired Executive Chairman of Celgene Corporation becomes a candidate.

Speaking to several hundred Monmouth County Republicans at the annual Lincoln Day Dinner, Pezzullo, of Freehold, said, ” I actually like the guy and trust him to advance our agenda vigorously and fearlessly. I encourage him to quit waffling and get into the race.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Menendez: I plan to run for re-election despite retrial

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez said Friday he intends to run for re-election this year even though federal prosecutors revealed earlier in the day that they plan to retry the New Jersey Democrat on corruption charges. “Senator Menendez fully expects to be vindicated and has every intention of running for re-election, continuing to fight Donald Trump’s policies… Read the rest of this entry »

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