Key Democrat lawmaker steps up criticism of White House Iran deal as Obama's term nears end

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"Before Thursday's vote authorizing new sanctions against Iran, one of the most impassioned speeches on the chamber’s floor against the U.S.-Iran nuclear deal came from a member of President Obama’s own party.

Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., a veteran member of Congress and former chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, bucked the administration, and most of his own Democratic party, by voicing his support for the sanctions measure, as well as reiterating his
long-held opposition to the nuclear deal.

Menendez believes he has paid a price for his dissent, which also has included assailing Obama as weak in his handling of Cuba, Syria and the Russians.

Menendez has continued to criticize the Obama administration's policies, but with Obama's days in the White House waning, it appears he is turning up the volume.

“There have been attempts to punish me for what I’ve said about the administration’s policy on Iran and Cuba,” Menendez told FoxNews.com. “I don’t intend to be intimidated by another branch of government.”

Key Democrat lawmaker steps up criticism of White House Iran deal as Obama's term nears end