Was it or wasn’t it US Senator Robert “Bob” Menendez (D-NJ) who brought AIPAC Policy Conference participants to their feet in rousing applause just last week? Wasn’t he once the local congressman from Union City who always stood by the Jewish community, from the very beginning of his public service?

Could we be the only ones scratching our heads and wondering why in the days following AIPAC, the senator, a staunch, vocal supporter of Israel, became the focus of corruption allegations leaked by the Justice Department?

Menendez, 61, is a second-term senator, now a ranking member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. He has always taken a loud and clear position that the US must proceed with the utmost caution in its approach to Iran. For Menendez, the bigger priority has and will always be a safe, secure Israel. Frankly, he is one of Israel’s and the Jewish peoples’ best friends on Capitol Hill.

There are those who question the timing of these leaks. We want to urge the

Justice Department and the Obama Administration to understand that Sen. Menendez is not going to waver in his support for Israel and his cynicism towards any nuclear pact with Iran, and that carries a great deal of weight and importance for the nation’s Jewish community. He hasn’t even been charged as of press time.

So why are these allegations coming out now?

We choose with pride to stand by our Senator.