[Daily Caller] Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez’s corruption trial is an unfair attack on Hispanic Americans, the lawyer for Menendez’s co-defendant argued on the second day of the trial.Prosecutors say Menendez sold political favors to a friend, Dr. Salamon Melgen, in exchange for more than half a million dollars worth of bribes, including helping Melgen navigate government issues while Melgen committed Medicare fraud. Menendez is facing a dozen corruption-related charges.
Melgen’s attorney, Kirk Ogrosky, attempted to frame the trial in racial terms while addressing the jury on Thursday, Politico reported.
"Sal and Bob were part of a fellowship of Hispanic Americans. Entrepreneurs, businessmen, doctors, politicians. You’ll hear this at trial: their idea was to pay it forward, help young Hispanic Americans improve their lives, lift up their community, play a larger role in their community," Ogrosky said. "This case isn’t only an attack on those two men. It’s an attack on that whole group."
Prosecutors say Menendez repeatedly lobbied then-Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and acting Medicare administrator Marilyn Tavenner on Melgen’s behalf in Medicare disputes. Prosecutors say Melgen defrauded the government of more than $105 million.