Christie-tied super PAC airs new anti-Menendez ad

Integrity NJ, the super PAC run by allies of former Gov. Chris Christie, today launched a new TV ad, “Friendship,” which notes the friendship between U.S. Senator Bob Menendez and Salomon Melgen, a Florida ophthalmologist currently in prison for fraudulent Medicare billings.

The super PAC is spending $348,852 on a television buy, and another $87,500 for digital ads.

“New Jerseyans deserve to have a US Senator that will go to Washington, D.C. to fight for their interests, not his friend who was convicted of defrauding US taxpayers out of more than $73 million in fraudulent Medicare billings,” said Peter Sheridan, the Integrity NJ executive director.  “The same friend that Menendez accepted nearly $1 million in gifts and donations from including for private flights, luxury hotel stays and vacations.  He calls it friendship, but the Obama Administration called it a crime.”

Phil Cox, the Integrity NJ chairman and senior advisor, was executive director of the Republican Governors Association when Christie was chairman of the group. He also headed America Leads, a super PAC founded to back Christie’s 2016 presidential run.  Sheridan is a former aide to Christie.

The script: Menendez’s friend, Dr. Salomon Melgen, was found guilty of defrauding taxpayers of $73 million. It’s the same Melgen who was charged with bribing Bob Menendez with luxury vacations and big campaign contributions.  Menendez calls that friendship.  The Obama administration called it a crime.  Bob Menendez. Shamelessly corrupt.