By Patricia Zengerle
WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department is preparing criminal corruption charges against New Jersey Democratic Senator Robert Menendez, CNN reported on Friday.
Citing unnamed sources briefed on the case, CNN said the charges center on allegations that Menendez used his office to promote the business interests of a Democratic donor and friend in exchange for gifts.
Menendez's office denied any wrongdoing.
"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," Tricia Enright, Menendez's communications director, said in a statement.
Noting that the official investigation of the matter was ongoing, she said the senator's office "cannot address allegations being made anonymously."
CNN said Attorney General Eric Holder has given the green light for prosecutors to proceed with charges and an announcement could arrive in coming weeks.
Holder, who was traveling in South Carolina with President Barack Obama, said he could not comment.
Justice Department officials declined to comment.
If charges are brought against Menendez it is possible he would have to step down from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he is the top Democrat.
Federal authorities have probed Menendez's relationship with Florida ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen, a Democratic donor who has been accused of overbilling the Medicare program.
CNN said the government's case focuses on Melgen and, in part, on plane trips that Menendez took in 2010 to the Dominican Republic as a guest of Melgen.
Prosecutors also are focusing on whether Menendez advocated for Melgen's business interest in a Dominican Republic government contract for port screening equipment, CNN said. (Additional reporting by Elvina Nawaguna; editing by Kevin Drawbaugh, Sandra Maler, Richard Chang and Leslie Adler)
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