Washington--US justice officials will file criminal corruption charges against a powerful Democratic lawmaker, American media reported Friday, but Senator Robert Menendez's office insists his actions have been "appropriate and lawful."
The charges are related to a long-standing investigation involving a Florida doctor who is a close friend and donor to Menendez, according to CNN which first reported the story.
The probe has been ongoing for two years and relates to Salomon Melgen, a prominent ophthalmologist and businessman who contributed large sums of money to the Democrat's campaign.
When asked directly whether he authorized federal corruption charges against Menendez, Attorney General Eric Holder, appearing at an event, said "I can't comment on that."
But CNN, citing people briefed on the case, reported that Holder signed off on prosecutors' requests to proceed with charges against Menendez.
In March 2013, when Menendez was the influential head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, The Washington Post reported he was under investigation by a Miami grand jury.
Melgen is reported to have businesses in the Dominican Republic, and Menendez is alleged to have intervened on his behalf with the US government from his congressional office.
Menendez's office did not directly confirm pending charges against him, but issued a statement defending the New Jersey senator.
"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," his communications director Tricia Enright said.
"Any actions taken by Senator Menendez or his office have been to appropriately address public policy issues and not for any other reason."
She added that Menendez counted 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.
"We know many false allegations have been made about this matter, allegations that were ultimately publicly discredited."
Menendez has been invited to Melgen's villa in the Dominican Republic on several occasions, and had to reimburse the doctor for several trips after admitting to a mix-up with air fares from his 2012 re-election campaign.
He was also alleged to have solicited prostitutes in the Dominican Republic, but the purported sex workers later retracted the accusation.
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