US Democratic Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey is under fire again. The Justice Department has recently concluded a two-year investigation of Menendez, indicting him for corruption charges. While this is not the first time Menendez has faced allegations of criminal behavior, this time the Justice Department says the charges will stick.

The claim is based on Menendez’s long time friendship with Dr. Salomon Melgen. The Florida eye surgeon has contributed several hundred thousand dollars to Menendez’s campaigns. In return, Menendez has supposedly smoothed over disputes between Melgen and Medicare relating to policy changes that would have cost Melgen several million dollars.

Menendez, who serves in a senior position on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also allowed Melgen to obtain lucrative business contracts in the Dominican Republic despite opposition by the US Customs and Broader Protection agency.

Menendez denies the accusations, insisting that for the more than 20 years he has served in public office, he has been honest and law abiding.

On Friday evening, Menendez attended a pre-indictment press conference in Newark. The Senator arrived a half hour late and very angry.

“Let me be very clear, I have always conducted myself appropriately and in accordance with the law,” said Menendez. “Every action that I and my office have taken for the last 23 years that I have been privileged to be in the United States Congress has been based on pursuing the best policies for the people of New Jersey and this entire country.”

His speech alternated between English and Spanish and was frequently punctuated with empathic hand gestures.

He refused to take any questions, claiming he could not because “there is an ongoing inquiry.”

Interestingly, the Iranian news media has followed this story very closely and has been covering it extensively. The official state news agency, the IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency) ran a headline saying “Financial Corruption of Anti-Iran Senator.” Another news agency, the ISNA (Iranian Students News Agency) described Menendez as the “most prominent American senators opposed to nuclear talks with Iran.”

Menendez is the author of two bills involving Iran. One calls for additional sanctions. The other demands that Congress gets the final say in any nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1.