Story highlights The senators will vouch for their colleague's character

Booker came to support Menendez during opening statements as well

Newark, New Jersey (CNN) A courtroom in New Jersey briefly turned into a rare scene of bipartisan unity Thursday as Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sen. Cory Booker came to the defense of Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, both taking the witness stand to defend their colleague facing federal bribery charges.

Taking a deep breath, Booker said that Menendez is trustworthy and honest, speaking directly to the jury about his fellow New Jersey Democrat.

"I'm the only US senator in our country that when I come home, I come home here to Newark -- I live a couple miles from here," Booker said, captivating the jury for roughly 10 minutes on the witness stand.

"I don't care who you are in America -- Italian, Irish, Korean, Black or Latina -- you are not that far away from struggle, poverty, and hurt. Some of us forget where we come from. But what I think is honorable about Bob is ... Bob has not forgotten where he comes from. He is someone who has known poverty and insecurity and what is honorable about him to me is that when I go home, and I am reminded of who I'm fighting for, I know Bob Menendez doesn't just have my back but has their backs," Booker testified.

Prosecutors have accused Menendez of accepting free rides on private jets from Dr. Salomon Melgen, a wealthy ophthalmologist from Florida, and then failing to report the gifts on his Senate disclosure forms as part of an effort to conceal their bribery scheme for years.

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