By Thomas Moriarty and MaryAnn Spoto | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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NEWARK — In an unexpected move Thursday, Lindsey Graham, a well-known Republican senator from South Carolina, walked into the federal courthouse in which his Democratic colleague Robert Menendez is facing bribery and corruption charges.

Graham briefly told reporters, "I'm here to vouch for Bob," before entering the courtroom. His appearance comes after rumblings that Thursday's testimony in the ongoing case would include some high-profile witnesses.

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Graham arrives at the MLK Federal Courthouse to testify in the trial of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez on corruption charges. Thursday October 26, 2017. (Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Graham on Menendez: In very difficult circumstances, he always keeps his word. A handshake is all you need from Bob.' — MaryAnn Spoto (@MaryAnnSpoto) October 26, 2017

Graham, who was on the stand as a character witness for about six minutes, said he knew Menendez to be a “very honest, trustworthy man.”

The South Carolina senator said he got to know Menendez while working on immigration issues with him. He called Menendez bipartisan, a noted some examples where the Democrat opposed measures supported by his party.

“In very difficult circumstances, he always keeps his word. A handshake is all you need from Bob,” Graham said.

He also addressed their different party affiliations, saying “I’m not here because I agree with him or disagree with him. I’m here because I know him.”

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Graham's office Thursday morning released a statement about his involvement in the trial.

“Today, Senator Graham is testifying in federal district court in Newark, New Jersey at the trial of Senator Bob Menendez," the statement read.

"Graham is testifying as a character witness for the defense and traveled to the trial at his own personal expense. He will testify about his service with Senator Menendez in the Senate. Graham’s testimony is unrelated to the underlying charges.”

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Crossing party lines

Graham’s politics have often crossed party lines.

The retired U.S. Army colonel and prominent member of the Republican Party has a reputation for taking up bipartisan measures. During the campaign and early days of the presidency of Republican Donald Trump, he was a vocal opponent. But, he has reportedly started moving closer to the president, and according to the New York Times, advising him on issues like healthcare.

Menendez has been a critic of the president.

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Graham and Menendez have served together in both the House and Senate. They were members of the "Gang of Eight" senators that wrote bipartisan legislation strengthening border security and offering a path to citizenship for the 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. The bill passed the Senate overwhelmingly but House Republican leaders refused to bring it up for a vote in their chamber.



Graham co-sponsored Menendez-led legislation requiring congressional review of President Barack Obama's nuclear deal with Iran. Both men opposed the agreement, but the Senate failed to get the 60 votes needed to kill it.

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US Senator Corey Booker and myself. He took the selfie while we wre in US Federal Court in Newark NJ waiting to testify for US Senator Bob Menendez, my Brother. Posted by Agustin Gus Garcia on Thursday, October 26, 2017

Some local support

Cory Booker, the junior senator from New Jersey, also took the stand Thursday morning.

He testified he's known Menendez since his days as a Newark councilman, before he was elected mayor and later to the U.S. Senate.

In the Senate, Booker testified, "Bob and I are in the thick of it together.

"One of the best things about politics for me the last four years is I get to work with Bob Menendez."

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The two men have worked closely together. Booker joined Menendez when he met with FEMA to demand that the agency reopen the claims process for Sandy victims. Both have served on the Foreign Relations Committee where they often sent out joint press releases.

Booker has stood by Menendez since the indictment was announced, doing nothing to distance himself from his colleague. Booker also used his leadership political action committee to donate $10,000 to Menendez's legal defense fund in October 2015.

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"Bob has not forgotten where he comes from," Booker said of his Democratic colleague who grew up in Union City, where he eventually served as mayor and then in the state assembly and senate before being elected as a congressman and the senator.

While speaking of his constituents in New Jersey, Booker said, “I know Bob Menendez doesn’t have my back, he has those people’s back.”

He too, testified about Menendez’s trustworthiness and honesty, saying Menendez is someone whose word "you can take to the bank," and calling him "profoundly honorable."

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Menendez, while walking into the courthouse Thursday, stopped to give an emotional speech thanking Graham and Sen. Cory Booker for coming to the trial on his behalf.

"When your colleagues come to testify for you, says a lot," Menendez said.

Booker was in the stands on the opening day of the trial in September. He did not give public comments on the trial at that appearance, or speak to reporters outside Thursday.

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Staff photographer Aristide Economopoulos and reporters Jonathan Salant and Ted Sherman contributed to this report.

Thomas Moriarty may be reached by email at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty.

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.