[Photo] U.S. Senator Bob Menéndez


Samuel Feijóo, a scholar, editor, painter, illustrator, and writer from San Juan de los Yeras -a town in Villa Clara province- who understood as few the essence of Cubans, starred in a memorable anecdote.

By recalling it, I wish to pay tribute to his work, and to personally remember him as we approach the anniversary of his death on 14 July, 1992. But, at the same time, I want to avail myself of that memory to characterize a shameful figure in Cuban-American politics, who justifies the adjective "mafia" that he has earned.

Here's the story that surely some will remember. In the first period of the TV show La Revista de la Mañana, which was live, presenter Mariana Ramirez- Corria had to interview Feijoo. It was a time of great political sensitivity in Cuba, as there had just been a counterrevolutionary aggression –one of many which have taken place. About those events, Mariana asked Feijoo, on the set, "Master, what do you think of President Reagan?" And Feijoo, so original, as if he had prepared the statement, said, "Between Reagan and a turd, I'll take the turd."

An unexpected response. Mariana did not know what to do, because they were live on Cuban television. Well, paraphrasing master Feijoo, I now say: "Between Bob Menéndez and a turd, I'll take the turd."

I bring this up because, once again, Menendez, Chairman of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has returned to the media limelight in connection with known allegations against him for unethical favoritism toward certain donors and personal friends, and also for the collection of dubious origin money.

In 2012, as many will remember, Menendez received media exposure due to revelations about two underage prostitutes hired in the Dominican Republic. He was connected to dealings and travelling with ophthalmologist Solomon Melgen, a West Palm Beach billionaire, for whose businesses Menendez had mediated in American and Dominican circles of influence; pretty "diversified" businesses belonging to Dr. Melgen, inside and outside medicine.

Percy Alvarado Godoy recalled very well the origin of these allegations in his investigation “Bob Menéndez, vida de capo y mentiras baratas” [Bob Menendez, Life of a Capo and Cheap Lies] published on his blog. (http://percy-francisco.blogspot.com/2014/07/bob-menendez-vida-de-capo-y-mentiras.html).

Although these scandals about contracting underage prostitutes began with media such as the Daily Caller and the Dominican publication Proceso, we must not forget that The Washington Post itself in an article published on December 12, 2012 revealed another scandal linked to Senator Menendez regarding an “indocumentado” [undocumented immigrant] and registered sex offender who was an intern in his office. There were also disclosed allegations of tricks to cover up contributions amounting to $98,000 for the Senator's election campaigns.

Despite the fact that Menendez mobilized his lawyers and controlled some of the damage, especially to his image; what really worries him is that there are charges weighing anainst him that concern the FBI and the Justice Department.

In January 2013, I wrote an article making clear some of the facts. These were confirmed and also shared with much of the media, including the South Florida media. At that time there was a millionaire embargo on Dr. Melgen by the United States IRS   .
(http://latardesemueve.com/archives/1131)

As can be verified, these are not mere suspicions, or allegations; they are specific data on a person who Senator Menendez’ own office acknowledged as a campaign contributor, political supporter and personal friend with whom he has shared even a private CL-600 Challenger plane.

Menendez is reasonably very concerned about this situation. This is evidenced by the article "Sen. Robert Menendez seeks probe of Alleged Cuban plot to smear him" published in The Washington Post on Monday July 7, by journalists Carol D. Leonnig and Manuel Roig-Franzia. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sen-robert-menendez-seeks-probe-of-alleged-cuban-plot-to-smear-him/2014/07/07/e9ba25a0-efe8-11e3-914c-1fbd0614e2d4_story.html)

The article says that Senator Menendez has sent through his lawyer a letter asking the Justice Department to follow an alleged "evidence" or clue obtained by him showing that behind the allegations about his ethical conduct since 2012 is not the press, but –of course, what else!-  a plot of the Cuban government.

Menendez's intention is clear: to divert the attention of the ongoing investigation, to a mendacious problem with Cuba.

But all his arguments fall apart. From Menéndez’ letter of complaint to the Justice Department we know almost nothing. Only that it exists. Neither do we know of the "evidence" for the investigation referred to in the letter.

A supposed "investigation" recommended by a "former government official" who in the end turns out not to be one; and which then refers for verification to people who happen to be of Dr. Melgen’s circle.

There is also no mention of any of this in the Senator’s official website, or his twitter and facebook accounts.

Senator Marco Rubio, himself, always ready to second Menendez in everything anti-Cuban he can think of, was quoted in an article in Time (http://time.com/2966881/marco-rubio-cuba/), distancing himself from the claim that there existed a plot by Cuban agents against the Senator. Furthermore, when asked if for having positions similar to Menendez’ he could be a target of Cuban agents, he replied that he does not believe so; that he has no evidence.

Also on Tuesday, July 8, CNN (in English, not Spanish) interviewed Senator Menendez, and asked him about the supposed "evidence" he said he had and that would involve Cuba behind the allegations he made to the press. And then, when he should have been precise, Menendez gave vague references that CNN considered insufficient; to the extent that the title of the note it published says that Menéndez "suggested" the participation of Cuban agents. (http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/08/politics/menendez-prostitutes-cuba/) "Suggesting" is something anyone can do about anything; a very weak argument for Menéndez to dodge true responsibility.

On its part, the CIA that could confirm the "evidence" that -according to Menendez- it has, declined to comment. Logical, because nowhere in the world the Intelligence Services provide information to individuals, and only obey and have direct contact with the President. It is even more unthinkable that -being Menéndez himself a person of interest under the investigators magnifying glass- the agency would provide him with any special information.

No intelligence officer will go with information to any other entity than the President. Not even to the State Department, or the Department of Justice.

Everyone knows that the information regarding the corruption of Senator Menendez, a member of the Democratic Party, was disclosed by U.S. right wing media, some of them linked to the Tea Party. Cuba's government does not intervene in the internal disputes of other countries, nor has it dealings with U.S. political factions, much less with these extremists.

The thing is that the Cuban-American right only listens to the media when it suits their purposes. Speaking of which, this same right must feel a little uncomfortable when none other than El Nuevo Herald, which always pleases them, released today Wednesday July 9, for its Miami readers, the “uncensored” translation of the Washington Post article by Carol D. Leonnig and Manuel Roig-Franzia including the part where it says: "the Public Integrity Section of the Justice Department and FBI agents are conducting an active investigation and consider possible the charges against Menendez."

I think it is an embarrassment for the United States to have Menendez as a Senator and as Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate; a man who is a "gangster" linked to the world of casinos, nightclubs, and gambling. We must not forget that the father of Menendez’ ex-wife was one of the sponsors of terrorist Luis Clemente Posada Carriles at the time of the bombings in Havana.

Yesterday there was a parade of characters defending Menéndez in Miami Hispanic media; persons close to the "environment" of the Senator, as Congressmen Mario Diaz-Balart, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Joe Garcia. And also some second row courtiers among these: the abject Juan Antonio Blanco, manager of the Fellowship Program of the Fundación Nacional Cubano Americana [The Cuban American National Foundation]; Félix Ismael Rodríguez Mendigutía (aka The Cat, implicated in the assassination of Che in Bolivia); and Bay of Pigs mercenary and former Director of Radio Marti, Pedro Roig.

The national news broadcasts of the Hispanic networks, reported totally biased in favor of Senator Menendez. With defenders like these, I say, Senator Bob Menendez is indeed guilty.

I think, as co-host of La Tarde se Mueve, Eddie Levy says, that U.S. policy is at its lowest point. We have seen things in the actions of the legislature that had never happened, not even at the time of the founding of the United States when there were duels and more open forms of confrontation.

Menendez is a "capo", a person who believes himself unchallengeable and with the right to lie as he pleases. This is not the first time someone seeks to involve Cuba with the excesses of "mafiosos" [mobsters] like Bob Menendez; and neither will it be the first time all slander is proven false.


 Note in La Pupila Insomne:

Yesterday, July 9, 2014, in the late afternoon, Edmundo Garcia posted on his Twitter account @EdmundoGarcía65 that NBC TV network broadcasted that federal authorities declared that there is no evidence that Cuba is behind the scandal of Bob Menendez .

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