According to a Washington Post article, a federal grand jury is investigating U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) in connection with his alleged lobbying efforts on behalf of a Dominican friend and heavy campaign contributor, Dr. Salomon Melgen.

Menendez has intervened in matters affecting the financial interests of Florida ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen, seeking to apply pressure on the Dominican government to honor a contract with Melgen’s port-security company, documents and interviews show. Also, Menendez’s office has acknowledged he interceded with federal health-care officials after they said that Melgen had overbilled the U.S. government for care at his clinic.

Menendez was reached for comment on Thursday regarding the developments and was quoted as saying -

“I welcome any review, because I believe, at the end of the day, that my actions have been appropriate,” the senator said. “And just as everything that gave rise to this was a smear campaign based on slanders that drove the original story, I believe that when any review reviews the facts, they will determine that I have acted appropriately at all times.”