Jose Uribe, a businessman from New Jersey, stated in his testimony on Friday that he bribed Sen. Bob Menendez as part of a plot to stop an associate’s prosecution and prevent Uribe, his close associates, and his family from being included in a connected probe.
Prosecutors are trying to piece together, via Uribe, four weeks into the New Jersey Democrat’s corruption trial in Manhattan, what they have characterized as a massive plot to exchange Menendez’s influence for money, gold bars, and opulent gifts. Menendez turned in his seat on Friday to watch Uribe walk into the courtroom. The businessman, who is testifying on behalf of the government under a cooperation agreement after entering a guilty plea in March, informed the court that he had committed federal crimes, including bribing a public official. Menendez watched this all unfold attentively. Uribe, whose sentencing is set for later this month, walked out of the courtroom focusing only on the two doors that indicated his exit rather than any of the defendants. As business hours drew to an end, Judge Sidney Stein called a halt to the proceedings. On Monday, the trial will continue with Uribe taking the stand once more.