The New Hampshire Republican State Committee is calling on U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire to return donations from New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, who was indicted Wednesday on federal corruption charges.
"Granite Staters expect their elected officials to stand up for integrity and high ethical standards in government," NHGOP Chairman Jennifer Horn said in a statement. "The criminal corruption charges that have been brought against Senator Menendez are extremely troubling, and it's time for Senator Shaheen to distance herself from her discgraced Democratic colleague by returning his tainted campaign donations."
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, like Shaheen a Democrat, announced Wednesday night that she would voluntarily return all contributions from Menendez and his New Millenium PAC. Menendez also donated $7,500 to Shaheen through his PAC, according to Opensecrets.org.
Shaheen's office did not immediately respond to an email Thursday morning asking if the senator plans to return contributions from Menendez's New Millenium PAC.
The indictment against Menendez alleges that he accepted nearly $1 million worth of "lavish gifts" and campaign contributions from Salomon Melgen, a wealthy Florida optometrist and the politician's longtime friend, in exchange for using the power of his Senate office to influence the outcome of ongoing contractual and Medicare billing disputes worth tens of millions of dollars in the doctor's favor. Melgen was also seeking Menendez's support of the visa applications of several of Melgen's girlfriends, according to the indictment.
