article_snippet: Washington (the Justice Department is preparing to bring criminal corruption charges against Menendez, alleging he used he Senate office to push the business interests of a Democratic donor and friend in exchange for gifts.
article_snippet: Prosecutors are under pressure in part because of the statute of limitation on some of the allegations.
article_snippet: Menendez said that because of an ongoing investigation Menendez couldn't answer questions at the news conference, held in Newark.
article_snippet: the case could pose a high-profile test of the Justice Department's ability to prosecute sitting lawmakers, having already spawned a legal battle over whether key evidence the government has gathered is protected by the Constitution's Speech and Debate clause.
article_snippet: The FBI and prosecutors from the Justice Department's public integrity section, have pursued a variety of allegations against Menendez, who has called the probe part of "smear campaign" against him.
article_snippet: the probe has already spawned a legal battle between the government, Menendez and Menendez former aides.
article_snippet: Last week, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals briefly posted, apparently by accident, documents detailing legal efforts to block certain evidence and testimony the government wants to use.
article_snippet: documents detailing legal efforts to block certain evidence and testimony the government wants to use were quickly put back under seal, but not before a reporter with the New Jersey Law Journal secured a copy and later published a story.
article_snippet: According to documents detailing legal efforts to block certain evidence and testimony the government wants to use, Menendez's lawyers have sought to claim emails and testimony from aides is protected by the constitutional protections given to members of Congress in carrying out Menendez's lawyers duties.
article_snippet: The speech and debate clause prohibits questioning of members of Congress about "legislative acts or the motivation for legislative acts.
article_snippet: The fight centers in part on the Justice Department's attempt to compel testimony from Menendez aides, some of whom have refused to answer questions to a grand jury.
article_snippet: According to documents detailing legal efforts to block certain evidence and testimony the government wants to use, the government wants to question aides about a series of 2012 calls and meetings on Melgen's fight with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a federal agency.
article_snippet: A federal district court ruled in favor of the government to compel testimony from Menendez aides, but A federal district court reversed the ruling and ordered a hearing.
highlights_snippet: Case will be a test of ability to prosecute sitting lawmakers .