Graham, Booker testify at Menendez bribery trial

Two senators — one Republican, one Democrat — testified on behalf of Sen. Bob Menendez Thursday in his federal bribery and corruption trial in Newark, a high-profile gambit by the New Jersey Democrat.

Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) appeared as character witnesses for Menendez Thursday morning. They did not testify about the charges against Menendez, but instead discussed his work in the Senate.


Graham and Booker — in very brief appearances — gave the jury glowing reviews of Menendez, casting him as a hard-working and trustworthy public servant.

“I’m not here because I agree with him or a disagree with him. I’m here because I know him,” Graham said.

Graham said he’s known Menendez for more than two decades, beginning when the two served in the House together. But Graham said he got to know Menendez well when the two were members of the “Gang of 8,” working on a comprehensive immigration reform package.

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“It’s the most difficult politics I’ve been involved in. A lot of emotion. A lot of people are upset about a broken immigration system and finding solutions [is] very difficult,” Graham said.

Graham noted that Menendez also went against his own party as an opponent of the Obama administration’s Iran nuclear deal.

“In very difficult circumstances, he always keeps his word. There’s a lot of political pressure for us to back off, but a handshake is all you need from Bob. He’s a very hardworking senator,” Graham said.

Booker — who showed up to the trial on its first day to show support for Menendez — was even more effusive.

“It’s almost an understatement to say he was just a partner,” declared Booker, who said Menendez showed him the ropes in the Senate and even told him how to vote.

Booker — elected to the Senate in 2013 — said that Menendez understands who he’s fighting for because he grew up in poverty himself in Union City.

“I don’t care who you are in America: Italian, Irish, Korean, black or Latino, you are not that far away from struggle and poverty and hurt. Some of us often forget where we come from,” Booker said. “But what I think is honorable about Bob, who I view as trustworthy not because of what he’s done for me ... it’s because Bob has not forgotten where he comes from. He is a guy who’s known poverty and insecurity, not knowing where his next meal comes from.”

“He has those people's back because he’s walked in their shoes,” Booker said.

Both Booker and Graham said they believe Menendez is “honest and trustworthy.”

Federal prosecutors have spent nearly two months building a case against Menendez, alleging he did official favors for his friend, Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen, in exchange for private jet flights, lavish vacations and about $750,000 in political contributions.

Lead Justice Department prosecutor Peter Koski asked both senators — who combined spent roughly 17 minutes testifying — the same single question on cross-examination.

“You haven’t been in this courtroom for the past eight weeks to see and hear the evidence that has been presented to this jury, have you?” Koski asked.

Both senators acknowledged they had not.

With his personal and political future at stake, Menendez has strongly denied any wrongdoing and mounted a vigorous legal defense. Melgen has already been convicted in a related Medicare fraud case and is awaiting sentencing. Federal prosecutors have pushed for a lengthy prison term for Melgen in the case.

Also appearing on Thursday will be Marc Elias, a prominent Democratic attorney. Menendez hired Elias after news reports in late 2012 that described unreported airplane flights by Menendez paid for by Melgen, a potential violation of Senate rules and federal law. A lengthy FBI criminal probe led to the criminal charges against Menendez and Melgen.

The Washington Post reported this week that Elias — who represented Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee — retained an opposition research firm to look into the alleged ties between President Donald Trump and Russian officials during the 2016 election.

— Friedman reported from Newark.

