Former Obama Official Testifies in Menéndez Trial

Jonathan Blum, a formerObama administration official, testified on Monday at the Senator Bob Menéndez (D-NJ) trial, saying the Senator acted "aggressive" and "hostile" during a phone call inquiring about a friend's Medicare billing dispute. Menéndez is alleged to have accepted lavish flights and vacations from ophthalmologist Dr. Salomón Melgen in exchange for advocating for the doctor's interests to various federal officials. Both men deny all allegations of wrongdoing. One of the allegations is that Menéndez worked to resolve an $8.9 million overbilling dispute between Melgen and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in Melgen's favor. Blum testified that in the 2009 phone call, Menéndez "pressed" him to change the policy at the heart of the dispute to "relieve or forgive or lessen" Melgen's overpayment. At the time, Blum was one of the most senior officials with the agency. More here.