FBI raids office of doctor tied to Sen. Menendez
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Sept. 27, 2012: Sen. Robert Menendez speaks in Sayreville, N.J. (AP)
The FBI late Tuesday night raided the office of a South Florida eye doctor who allegedly was involved in providing young prostitutes to Sen. Bob Menendez -- a claim the senator's office has denied.
Fox News confirms that FBI agents removed items from Dr. Salomon Melgen's West Palm Beach, Fla., business during a raid that lasted several hours. Agents could be seen rifling through items in the office and carrying boxes out of the building.
It is unclear whether the raid is related to anything involving Menendez. The Miami Herald reports that the investigation is believed to be focusing at least in part on Melgen’s finances.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Melgen, a top contributor to Menendez’s federal campaigns, has an outstanding IRS lien of $11.1 million for taxes owed between 2006 to 2009, according to records obtained from the Palm Beach County recorder’s office, the newspaper reported.
But The Daily Caller reported in November that Menendez, D-N.J., allegedly had sexual relations with several prostitutes at Melgen's mansion in the Dominican Republic.
The senator's office has rejected the charges for months.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The FBI last week declined to comment on the release of emails appearing to show the agency communicating with an individual claiming to know about Menendez' liaisons.
A spokeswoman for Menendez told FoxNews.com that the emails were "unsubstantiated garbage."
Attempts by The Miami Herald to reach Melgen and a spokesman for Menendez for comment Tuesday were unsuccessful.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fox News' Serafin Gomez and FoxNews.com's Judson Berger contributed to this report.