Sen. Bob Menendez is taking his possible corruption charges head on.
“I am not going anywhere,” the New Jersey Democrat said in a news conference late Friday night from Newark, adding, “Let me be very clear, very clear. I have always conducted myself appropriately and in accordance with the law.”
The top ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and outspoken opponent to the White House’s policy towards Iran is preparing for the Justice Department to bring corruption charges against him stemming from his friendship with Democratic donor and Florida doctor, Salomon Melgen.
The corruption charges could also become a criminal charge, a federal official told ABC News.
Though charges may not officially be brought for weeks, the possibility puts Menendez in a tough spot due to his closeness to his fight for sanctions on Iran.
“The senator will continue to push forward on the pressing foreign policy issues of the day, to include the two Iran bills he co-authored, which are poised to move forward pending the outcome of the March 24th negotiating deadline,”Menendez spokesman Adam Sharon told Bloomberg.
The outline for a nuclear deal between Iran and the U.S., the United Kingdom, France, China, Russia and Germany must be done by March 24.
Menendez has been pushing a bill he cosponsored with Republican Sen. Mark Kirk from Illinois that imposes new sanctions on parts of Iran’s economy should a nuclear deal not be reached by July. Another bill, cosponsored with Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, would allow Congress to review and approve any nuclear deal the White House makes with Iran.
Both bills, which Obama said he would veto, are now in limbo with charges against Menendez looming.
