Indicted Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., said he will not run for reelection this fall as a Democrat, hoping his “exoneration will take place this summer,” thus allowing him to pursue an independent candidacy.

“Unfortunately, the present accusations I am facing — of which I am innocent and will prove so — will not allow me to have that type of dialogue and debate with political opponents that have already made it the cornerstone of their campaign. New Jerseyans deserve better than that,” Menendez said in a 9-minute video posted to his YouTube channel touting his accomplishments as a lawmaker.

He later said: “I am hopeful that my exoneration will take place this summer and allow me to pursue my candidacy as an independent Democrat in the general election.”

Menendez was indicted in September on charges related to an alleged bribery scheme along with his wife, Nadine Menendez, and two New Jersey businessman.

He pleaded not guilty last week to new obstruction of justice charges recently added to a broad corruption indictment.

The couple is charged with taking bribes of gold bars, cash, and a luxury car in return for the senator’s help in projects pursued by three New Jersey businessmen. Prosecutors say that in return for the loot, Menendez helped one of the men get a lucrative meat-certification deal with Egypt — and in doing so took actions favorable to the Egyptian government. An indictment said Menendez helped another associate get a deal with a Qatari investment fund.

After his fall arrest, Menendez, 70, was forced to relinquish his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but said he would not resign from Congress.

Filing as an independent would give Menendez until June to collect the 1,000 signatures needed to make the ballot prior to the March 27 deadline.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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