The Justice Department is expected to bring criminal charges against Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., involving his relationship with wealthy donor Salomon Melgen and accusations that the senator improperly advocated for the business interests of the Florida eye doctor in return for gifts, according to a person familiar with the matter.The charges are expected within the next few weeks, said the person who is not authorized to comment publicly. Menendez has previously denied wrongdoing.
Asked Friday whether he authorized corruption charges against the New Jersey senator, Attorney General Eric Holder said: "I can't comment on that."
CNN first reported the development Friday afternoon.
News of a federal investigation first surfaced in 2013.
In 2012, Melgen gave $700,000 to Democratic senators, including Menendez. Additionally, Menendez received free flights to the Dominican Republic in 2010.
Menendez has been accused of assisting Melgen in a dispute the Florida ophthalmologist was engaged in with health care officials in the U.S. regarding Medicare payments, as well as urging Dominican Republic authorities to make good on a contract with a port security company of Melgen's..
Dr. Salomon Melgen
Tricia Enright, communications director for Menendez, said in a statement Friday:
"As we have said before, we believe all of the Senator's actions have been appropriate and lawful and the facts will ultimately confirm that. Any actions taken by Senator Menendez or his office have been to appropriately address public policy issues and not for any other reason."
Menendez was first appointed to the Senate in 2006 and was elected to a full term that same year. He was re-elected in 2012 and serves as the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee.
If the Menendez seat becomes vacant, it would be up to Republican Gov. Chris Christie to pick a replacement, the second time he would be left with that choice.
New Jersey is one of 36 states where the governor makes an appointment to fill a U.S. Senate vacancy, and the appointee serves until the next regularly scheduled, statewide general election, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Past corruption cases against members of Congress include one involving the late Republican senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, who was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2008 on seven counts of failing to properly report gifts.
Stevens was convicted and lost his 2008 re-election bid, but a judge later dismissed the conviction after finding prosecutors had intentionally hidden evidence that could have helped Stevens.
Another senator, Democrat Robert Torricelli of New Jersey, resigned in 2003 amid allegations he had improperly accepted gifts from a campaign contributor, businessman David Chang. Torricelli was under investigation by a grand jury and the Senate ethics committee when he resigned.
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