Menendez tells Fox News he will be vindicated

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D., N.J.) on Sunday maintained his innocence in the face of federal corruption charges related to a wealthy political donor, telling Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday he "will be vindicated" in court.

"When all the facts are known - of course prosecutors take out snippets of a story to make their case - we will have an opportunity in court to make the entire case," Menendez said. "And when all the facts are known, I know that I will be vindicated, and we will win."

Menendez also rejected suggestions that the charges were retribution for his stark criticism of the Obama administration's warming relations with Cuba and Iran.

"I cannot imagine that an administration - this or any other - would go to such lengths and undermine our constitutional democracy," he said.

The son of Cuban immigrants, Menendez has blasted President Obama over his moves to renew relations with Cuba, including last week amid reports that the country could soon be removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. On Sunday, he called that plan "a misguided calculation."

Menendez also said he was not backing off a bill he cosponsored to give Congress a chance to review any final international nuclear deal with Iran - a proposal the administration has tried to block, saying it could disrupt negotiations. Support from Democrats like Menendez could give Congress enough votes to override a presidential veto.

"After 21/2 years of negotiations, the Congress should have 60 days to be able to review probably the most significant nuclear nonproliferation agreement of our time," Menendez said Sunday.

But Menendez's strength has been undermined by the charges against him. He has temporarily stepped down as the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. His replacement, U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D., Md.), is more closely aligned with Obama.

Menendez is due back in the Senate on Monday for his first vote since his April 1 indictment. A hearing on his Iran bill Tuesday will provide a first glimpse of Menendez's return to a rank-and-file post on the Foreign Relations Committee.

On April 1, Menendez was indicted on 14 counts of federal corruption. He is accused of using his office to help a donor who had lavished him with gifts, including numerous flights on a private jet, a stay in a five-star Paris hotel, and vacations at a luxury resort in the Dominican Republic.

In exchange for the gifts, Menendez, 61, pressed high-ranking federal officials on issues important to the business and personal affairs of the donor, South Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen, the indictment alleges. Melgen also has pleaded not guilty to charges he faces.