Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) announced Thursday he will not run for reelection in the Democratic primary for his Senate seat but hopes an “exoneration” of his legal troubles would allow him to launch an independent bid in June.

“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 said in a nine-minute video.

“I know many of you are hurt and disappointed in me with the accusations I’m facing. Believe me, I’m disappointed in the false accusations as well. All I can ask of you is to withhold judgment until justice takes place,” he added in the video. 

The senator touted his accomplishments during his Senate career, which began in 2006. He then mentions the federal indictment, which focuses on accusations he used his position to enrich himself and his wife. The New Jersey senator acknowledged the looming legal charges would put a damper on a potential campaign, in which he would be forced to compete in a crowded primary with Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) and the state’s first lady, Tammy Murphy, vying for the nomination.  

“Unfortunately, the present accusations that I’m facing, of which I am innocent and will prove so, will not allow me to have that kind of dialogue and debate with political opponents that have already made it the cornerstone of their campaign,” he said.

Earlier this month, New Jersey businessman Jose Uribe pleaded guilty to bribing the senator’s wife in exchange for his intervention in a state insurance fraud investigation. 

That alleged favor — his wife, Nadine, is said to have accepted a Mercedes from Uribe — is just one of several charges that have emerged from an investigation in which federal authorities recovered gold bars and half a million in cash from his home.

The senator’s announcement comes after he had been hinting he could be considering a reelection bid as an independent.

The Justice Department first charged Menendez in September, accusing him of benefitting the governments of Egypt and then Qatar in his capacity as a senator. Until the indictment, Menendez served as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 

The filing deadline to run in the Democratic primary is March 25, and Menendez had not taken any steps to gather the 1,000 signatures he needed to file his nominating petitions, foreshadowing Thursday’s decision. 

If Menendez were to run as an independent, that would give him more time, and he would only need 800 signatures by June 4 to get on the ballot.

Over half of all Democratic senators have called on Menendez to resign, though Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has not gone that far. Schumer has said he was “disappointed” in Menendez but has not called on him to resign. 

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Menendez wrapped up his video, vowing that he would not be going anywhere and would continue to serve out his term.

“Until then, I will continue to work my heart out each and every day as I have for the past 19 years to fight for New Jersey, for you, your family, and a more prosperous and secure future,” Menendez said.