Florida eye doctor gets clemency from Trump in health fraud
He was convicted in April 2017 on 67 counts, including health care fraud, submitting false claims and falsifying patient records. A White House statement credited Menendez with supporting clemency for Melgen, who was a donor to Democratic politicians and a longtime friend of the Cuban-American New Jersey senator. In a statement of his own, Menendez said he did very little on Melgenโs behalf and did not expect the clemency decision from Trump. โI donโt pretend to know what motivates President Trump to act, but I am pretty sure itโs not me,โ Menendez said. A federal jury in New Jersey failed to reach a verdict on charges that Melgen used his relationship to bribe Menendez.
Amid impeachment inquiry, lawmakers fear government shutdown
"That is one of the things that has me frankly very concerned," said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a Republican on the House Appropriations Committee. "The impeachment thing is clearly bringing us closer to the risk of a government shutdown. "I'm increasingly worried that President Trump may want to shut down the government again because of impeachment," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said during a news conference on Tuesday. I hope and pray he won't want to cause another government shutdown, because it might be a diversion away from impeachment." When lawmakers agreed to a two-month continuing resolution in September, the prospects for an impeachment inquiry were slim.