New Jersey senator to face corruption charges

The U.S. Justice Department is preparing criminal corruption charges against New Jersey Democratic Senator Robert Menendez, according to multiple reports Friday. The senator’s office has denied the accusations.

The charges stem from allegations that the senator used his office to promote the business interests of Democratic donor and friend Salomon Melgen in exchange for gifts. Federal authorities have probed Menendez's relationship with Melgen, a Florida opthamalogist who has been accused of overbilling the Medicare program.

According to the New York Times, federal prosecutors are investigating whether or not Menendez was trying to alter Medicare law in a way that would enrich his friend. Prosecutors also are focusing on whether Menendez advocated for Melgen's business interests in a Dominican Republic government contract for a port screening equipment.

Menendez at a press conference late Friday said he had never done anything against the law and hailed his record of public service for New Jersey and the nation. 

"Anyone who knows me knows that I fight for the things that I believe are important like making sure victims of Superstorm Sandy have the tools they need to rebuild their lives," Menendez said. 

"That's who I am. And I am not going anywhere," he added, characterizing his relationship with Melgen as one of legitimate friendship. 

"He and his family and me and my family have been real friends for more than two decades," Menendez said, declining to comment specifically on the charges because of the ongoing investigation. 

Menendez’s office maintains that the conversations between Menendez were about policy in general and not specific ways the senator could help Melgen personally. His office also maintains that the two men are longtime friends, and that their trips to the Caribbean together were undertaken as such — not in exchange for political favors.

“The Senator has counted Dr. Melgen as one of his closest personal friends for decades. The two have spent holidays together and have gone to each other’s family funerals and weddings and have exchanged personal gifts,” Enright said.

“As has been reported, the start of this investigation is suspect. We know many false allegations have been made about this matter, allegations that were ultimately publicly discredited. We also know that the official investigation of this matter is ongoing, and therefore cannot address allegations being made anonymously.”

Attorney General Eric Holder has given the green light for prosecutors to proceed with charges and an announcement could arrive in coming weeks. Menendez is the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The investigation into Menendez began in 2013, after questions were raised about a trip that he made in 2010 to the Dominican Republic. That incident uncovered a close relationship between Melgen and Menendez, which led to the graft investigation.

Al Jazeera and Reuters