Sen. Bob Menendez, who was indicted on federal corruption charges Wednesday, lashed out at the Justice Department in an evening news conference, pledging to fight the charges and remain in office.
At the news conference, Menendez said prosecutors were “tricked” into investigating him, “with false allegations from those who have a political motive to silence me. And I will not be silenced.”
Menendez spoke at an event staged in Newark, N.J., the state he has represented in Congress since his election to the House in 1993 and the Senate in 2006. “I am confident at the end of the day I will be vindicated.”
Menendez said he was “outraged” at what he saw as an effort launched three years ago by his political enemies. Their goal, he says, was to steer Justice Department officials to investigate gifts and trips he received from a prominent donor, Dr. Salomon Melgen, an ophthalmologist.
The charges announced Wednesday allege Menendez used his influence in the Senate to benefit Melgen in exchange for trips in his private jet, vacations and other gifts.
Menendez has repeatedly maintained his innocence but did repay Melgen $58,000 for some of the jet travel.
Both men were indicted on federal conspiracy and bribery charges.
At the press conference, Menendez was met with loud cheers from apparent supporters, with one repeatedly shouting “We support you,” as Menendez entered the room.
Menendez said he did not break the law and is angry that prosecutors “don’t know the difference,” between friendship and corruption.
“I am proud of what I accomplished,” Menendez said. “I am not going anywhere.”
Menendez is the first Senator to be indicted on criminal charges since the late Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, whose conviction on ethics charges likely cost him his Senate seat. The verdict against Stevens was later tossed out, and the prosecutors in the case were found to have hidden evidence that would have exonerated him.
Without naming Stevens, Menendez, a top Democratic critic of Obama, drew a connection between the two cases.
“I’m gratified to live in a country where prosecutors’ mistakes can be corrected in courts and with juries,” Menendez said. “No matter how long it takes to clear my good name, New Jersey is my home and I will continue to fight for it.”
Earlier Wednesday, Menendez agreed to temporarily step down from his role as top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he has been a top critic of Obama’s foreign policy positions concerning Ukraine, Cuba, North Korea, Iran and Russia.
