The Department of Justice is planning to bring criminal corruption charges against Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), a U.S. official confirmed Friday. The charges are expected to relate to an investigation involving a Florida ophthalmologist who is a close ally and donor to the senator.
CNN first reported the news. Menendez's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The White House and Justice Department declined to comment on the report.
In recent months, Menendez has maintained a prominent role among Senate Democrats, even after losing his gavel as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee as Republicans assumed control of the Senate.
The son of Cuban immigrants, he was a lonely but powerful voice among Democrats criticizing President Obama's decision in December to normalize relations with Cuba. He decried the trade of convicted Cuban spies for an imprisoned American aid worker, saying it "vindicated the brutal behavior of the Cuban government."
In the new year, Menendez has assumed a leading role in the Senate debates over America's relations with Iran -- again taking a harder line on the issue than the Obama administration.
He is a co-author of two bills with broad Republican suppor one that would strengthen economic sanctions against Iran, another that would give Congress the ability to review any deal negotiated in multiparty talks over Iran's nuclear program now underway in Switzerland.
Menendez withdrew his support for the latter bill this week after Republican leaders moved to bring the measure to the Senate floor before the negotiations expire later this month. But he made clear Tuesday -- the same day Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Congress in a speech Menendez lauded -- that he still supported a congressional review of any deal that comes out of the talks.
The latest Monmouth University poll, from February, suggested 48 percent of New Jersey residents approved of the job Menendez was doing while 26 percent disapproved.
David Nakamura contributed to this story
Sari Horwitz covers the Justice Department and criminal justice issues nationwide for The Washington Post, where she has been a reporter for 30 years. Follow her @SariHorwitz.
Sean Sullivan has covered national politics for The Washington Post since 2012.
Mike DeBonis covers Congress and national politics for The Washington Post. He previously covered D.C. politics and government from 2007 to 2015.
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