article_snippet: the governmentcenters on Menendez's relationship with Salomon Melgen, a Florida ophthalmologist who the senator has called a friend and political supporter.
article_snippet: Melgen and Melgen family have been generous donors to the senator and various committees
article_snippet: In 2013, after word of the federal investigation became public, Menendez paid back  Melgen $58,000 for the 2010 plane trips calling Menendez failure to properly disclose the flights an "oversight.
article_snippet: Menendez said Menendez has been friends with Melgen for more than 20 years and the two families have spent holidays and other special occasions together.
article_snippet: Menendez advocated on Melgen's behalf with federal Medicare administrators who accused Melgen of overbilling the government's healthcare program, according to court documents and people briefed on the probe.
article_snippet: Melgen was among the top recipients of Medicare reimbursements in recent years, during a time when Melgen was also a major Democratic donor.  
article_snippet: Melgen's attorneys have denied any wrongdoing.