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Florida ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen has given more than $1 
million directly and indirectly to Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., 
and committees supporting him over the course of their 
friendship, new disclosures show.

His West Palm Beach, Fla., company, Melgen Vitreo Retinal Eye 
Center, donated a combined $103,500 to the Democratic Party 
committees in four New Jersey counties in the weeks leading up 
to the November election, the Newark Star-Ledger has reported.

The Star-Ledger quotes Union County Democratic Chairwoman 
Charlotte DeFilippo saying that, having been told her committee 
needed additional funds, Menendez �said he�d see what he could 
do, and I received a check.�

In states such as New Jersey that do not ban all corporate 
campaign contributions, federal rules permit party committees to 
raise corporate donations for limited purposes, such as voter 
registration. However, campaign finance laws bar federal 
candidates and officials from soliciting such unrestricted 
corporate money under any circumstances.

�If he actually asked Melgen for this money for these local 
party committees, it�s a violation of the [Federal Election 
Campaign Act],� said Brett Kappel, counsel at Arent Fox. �And 
because of the amount of money involved, it�s a significant 
violation.�

A Menendez aide declined to comment.

Melgen�s ties to Menendez have come under scrutiny amid a 
federal investigation that reportedly targets the doctor�s 
billing practices. Melgen has denied any wrongdoing.

In October, Melgen�s company gave $25,000 each to the Camden and 
Essex County Democratic committees, $37,000 to the Passaic 
County Democratic Committee, and $16,500 to the Union County 
Democratic Committee, according to public records filed with New 
Jersey�s Election Law Enforcement Commission. Melgen�s company 
turns up on the filings as Vitreo-Retinal Consultants.

That exceeds the combined total that Melgen, his wife Flor and 
their daughter Melissa, gave to Menendez directly and indirectly 
through various channels dating back to the 1990s. These include 
direct campaign contributions totaling $31,600, contributions to 
Menendez�s leadership PAC totaling $15,000 and donations 
totaling $50,000 to the New Jersey Democratic State Committee.

In addition, Melgen and his wife gave $60,400 to the Democratic 
Senatorial Campaign Committee when Menendez was its chairman. 
And National Journal reported that the two also donated $40,000 
to Menendez�s legal defense fund. Add that to the $700,000 that 
Melgen�s eye center gave to the super PAC known as Majority PAC 
last year, and Melgen�s indirect and direct aid to Menendez 
clears $1 million.

http://www.rollcall.com/news/scope_of_doctors_money_ties_to_mene
ndez_exceeds_1_million-222329-1.html?pos=hbtxt

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Are you obligated as an armed civilian, to defend unarmed 
liberals while you are both under fire by foreign agents of the 
outlaw Obama administration?

No.  Shoot the liberals immediately so they can't stab you in 
the back while you are defending yourself, then return a 
controlled rate of aimed fire.  ��

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