the Dominican Republic senator , 61 , is accused of using his influence to help wealthy donor in exchange for nearly $ 1million in campaign contributions and gifts . According to a federal indictment unsealed this month , Menendez intervened in the visa applications of three women tied to donor Dr Salomon Melgen . Those women are believed to include a former Big Brother Brazil contestant , Ukrainian actress/model and a young woman from New Jersey . Menendez , the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , has pleaded not guilty to the charges . Melgen has also been charged in the indictment , as well as in a separate indictment for Medicaid fraud ; he remains jailed .
New Jersey senator , 61 , is accused of using his influence to help wealthy donor in exchange for nearly $ 1million in campaign contributions and gifts . According to a federal indictment unsealed this month , Menendez intervened in the visa applications of three women tied to donor Dr Salomon Melgen . Those women are believed to include a former Big Brother Brazil contestant , Ukrainian actress/model and a young woman from the Dominican Republic . Menendez , the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , has pleaded not guilty to the charges . Melgen has also been charged in the indictment , as well as in a separate indictment for Medicaid fraud ; he remains jailed .