AP/J. Scott Applewhite
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey).
Menendez has been under investigation for allegedly using his office to help Melgen when he was accused of overbilling Medicare. Melgen, a South Florida ophthalmologist, was received about $21 million in Medicare reimbursements in 2012, more than any other doctor was paid by the government's healthcare program that year. There are also allegations Menendez tried to advocate for Melgen's business interests in the Dominican Republic.
The office of Attorney General Eric Holder did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Matthew Reilly, a spokesman for the US Attorney for the district of New Jersey, said he could not confirm or deny the report.
"It's the policy of our office never to confirm or deny the existence of any investigation," Reilly said.
CNN said the charges could be announced "within weeks."
The senator has dismissed the federal investigation as a "smear campaign" against him. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
Melgen and his family have given money to Menendez and some of his committees. The senator, who has described Melgen as a friend, has also traveled with the doctor to the Dominican Republic. The pair flew on Melgen's plane. In 2013, as the news of the investigation became public, Menendez gave Melgen $58,000 to compensate him for the flights, which he had not previously disclosed.
Menendez, whose parents were Cuban immigrants. is New Jersey's senior senator and the most senior Latino member of the Senate. Recently, Menendez has been one of the loudest critics of the White House's efforts to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran and its decision to begin normalizing relations with Cuba.
This is a developing story and this post is being continuously updated.
Additional reporting by Colin Campbell