Menendez used campaign funds to finance stay at luxury hotel during trial

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) used a campaign credit card to fund his stay at the luxury Millenium Downtown New York hotel during his corruption trial, racking up a near-$2,600 bill, according to FEC records reviewed by the Washington Examiner.

According to the New Jersey Globe , Menendez spent most weeknights at the hotel and received a government employee discount for his stay. The nightly rate was nearly $189.

Menendez only lives 16 miles away from the hotel in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. His campaign account can be self-funded or funded by outside donors such as everyday New Jerseyans.

The high-rise hotel is located in the financial district near the One World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial Museum. It has views of the city's skyline, the Hudson River, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Menendez was recently convicted in his corruption trial of 16 counts, including bribery, extortion, wire services fraud, obstruction of justice, and acting as an agent of a foreign government. He faces decades in prison, though he plans to appeal. The senator has since resigned his position effective on Aug. 20.

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His successor hasn't been named yet by Gov. Phil Murphy (D-NJ), but that person will take Menendez's seat until the November election. It's unclear whether Menendez, who is currently running for reelection as an independent, will drop his bid. If Menendez fails to take office this fall, it will be the first time since 1993 that he's out of Congress.

If he does, it will leave Democratic nominee Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ), who is favored to win in the blue state, and Republican nominee Curtis Bashaw to duke it out for the seat.