Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), who is on trial for allegedly accepting bribes in exchange for using his powerful role in Congress to benefit three New Jersey businessmen as well as the governments of Qatar and Egypt, has a juicy habit: spending donor money on expensive steaks.

Menendez, through his campaign and leadership PAC, has picked up dozens of checks totaling almost $40,000 since last January at Washington, D.C.‘s swanky Morton’s Steakhouse, a favorite hangout spot of the New Jersey Democrat, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Since 2003, the ex-Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman has dropped more than $386,000 at Morton’s for meals, catering, and fundraising events.

The routine spending is a window into how members of Congress are able to tap into large sums of money through their campaign committees to enjoy some of the most luxurious restaurants in the nation’s capital. Morton’s has a 36-ounce tomahawk rib-eye that will run hungry customers $139 and also boasts a $129 wagyu rib-eye that is 14 ounces. Its patio on Connecticut Avenue overlooks K Street, and the dining room “caters to D.C.’s powerful elite,” according to Morton’s.

While Menendez’s penchant for tapping into donor funds at Morton’s is fair scrutiny for the public, it would be difficult under federal rules to prove the senator has not used the money for campaign and government purposes, campaign finance expert and attorney Alexander Lee told the Washington Examiner.

“Federal campaign finance laws are designed to ensure transparency in the political process and to prevent corruption or its appearance,” Lee said. “But without additional evidence or facts indicating the disbursements were for personal use unrelated to his candidacy or federal office, the FEC would likely not have a factual basis to find a reason to believe a violation occurred.”

Meanwhile, Menendez’s campaign spent $2 million on legal fees in April as he defends himself against federal bribery charges.

Federal investigators searched Menendez’s home in 2022 and found more than a dozen gold bars and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash that prosecutors say were bribes delivered to the senator from businessmen.

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Menendez has one week to gather and file 800 signatures to run for reelection in New Jersey as an independent in the June 4 primary. His trial is expected to last through June.

The Menendez campaign did not return a request for comment.