Menendez: 'I'm Angry, Ready to Fight, And Not Going Anywhere'

Just hours after United States Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey was indicted on 14 counts of various corruption charges over a seven-year period, the Democrat fired back at the justice department and boisterously proclaimed his innocence at an evening press conference in Newark.

The Hudson County native entered the room to raucous applause and told the audience the Department of Justice has been “tricked” into investigating him over the last three years.

“For the last three years I’ve lived under a justice department cloud,” Menendez said. “The justice department has been tricked into starting [the investigation]. I will be vindicated.”

Menendez was indicted on charges alleging corruption and myriad other offenses for his relationship with Dr. Salomon Melgen of Florida, one of senator’s largest political benefactors.

The indictment claims Menendez accepted everything from private plane trips to use of Caribbean villas and contributions to a legal defense fund in exchange for political favors to Melgen.

See the full indictment story here.

“The justice department doesn’t know the difference between corruption and friendship,” Menendez said defiantly. “I’m angry and ready to fight. I’m not going anywhere.”

The federal legislator said his career began nearly 40 years ago based on fighting corruption, and that he’s led his entire life in accordance with the law.

Menendez didn’t take any questions and said repeated his statements in Spanish. The senator is scheduled to be in court in Newark on Thursday.