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Booker, Graham Head to Newark Courthouse in Mendendez's Defense

Booker, Graham Head to Newark Courthouse in Mendendez's Defense

(Bloomberg) -- Washington seems extra busy these days amid tax-reform legislation, the likely nomination of Federal Reserve Board Chairman, Russian-election-meddling probes and more. Even so, embattled lawmaker Robert Menendez convinced two of his colleagues in the U.S. Senate to help him defend against corruption charges.

Menendez’s fellow New Jersey Democrat Cory Booker will take the witness stand Thursday on his behalf, according to a person with knowledge of the defense plans. South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham announced that he too will testify. Menendez is accused of accepting bribes from his friend, Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen, to help on business and personal matters.

It wasn’t immediately clear what Booker or Graham would say in federal court in Newark, New Jersey. Booker attended the trial early on as an observer in a show of support. Neither his or Graham’s names have come up during the trial, indicating the defense may be calling them as character witnesses.

To contact the reporter on this story: Neil Weinberg in New York at nweinberg2@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: David Glovin at dglovin@bloomberg.net, Paul Cox

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