Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, whose net worth in 2012 ranked 82nd in the Senate out of a 100 lawmakers, took a big hit financially when he was forced to pay back to a donor nearly $60,000 for lavish trips on private jets to the Dominican Republic, according to his 2013 financial-disclosure report.
The cash in his congressional federal union savings and checking account dropped from a range of $50,000-$100,000 in 2012 to $15,000-$50,000 in 2013, according to the latest filing.
After the lawmaker was nabbed for taking high-flying vacations paid for by wealthy Florida eye doctor and Democratic donor Salomon Melgen, the politician promised to pay him back in cash.
Menendez’s net worth ranged from $266,005 to $714,999 in 2012 between his savings and checking accounts, a rental property in Union City, NJ, an insurance policy, and a mortgage ranging from $50,000 to $100,000.
But in 2013, after he coughed up the dough, that range fell to $231,005 to $665,000.