He has been internationally extolled for prosecuting a shady Turkish-Iranian businessman, but Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara said he has also faced accusations of being bribed $2.5 million to make that arrest.

“There have been a lot of silly things written about me. I can confirm for all of you that that’s the silliest,” Bharara said at the New York Press Association convention in Saratoga Springs on Friday.

Bharara said he is aware he has been featured in Turkish newspapers that claim he arrested Reza Zarrab and two others last month because of bribes offered by people trying to take down their country’s government.