Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) insisted Friday he was innocent of any corruption charges that the Department of Justice was reportedly planning to bring forth against him.
“Let me be very clear: I have always conducted myself appropriately and in accordance with the law,” the New Jersey Democrat said in a statement. “Every action I and my office have taken for the 23 years that I have been privileged to serve in the U.S. Congress has been based on pursuing the best policies for the people of New Jersey and of this entire country.”
Menendez rattled off a list of things he says he has fought for, such as protecting victims of Superstorm Sandy and “making certain Iran never, ever achieves the ability to produce nuclear weapons.”
“That’s who I am. And I’m not going anywhere,” he said.
His statement came after coming federal corruption charges were reported earlier Friday by CNN and the New York Times. The Times reported that the charges would be filed in the coming month following a two-year probe into “allegations that he accepted gifts and lavish vacations in exchange for political favors for a longtime friend and political benefactor” — Florida doctor Salomon Melgen.
Menendez said the two were friends and that there was nothing improper about his conduct, adding that he wouldn’t say any more regarding the “ongoing inquiry.”
Attorney General Eric Holder, asked Friday by a White House pool reporter to confirm that he had authorized the charges against Menendez, said, “I can’t comment on that.”
