In a high-profile bribery case against Senator Bob Menendez, a New Jersey businessman, Jose Uribe, took the witness stand on Friday, providing crucial testimony that could have significant implications for the Democrat and two other businessmen involved in the conspiracy. Menendez, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, stands accused of accepting bribes to influence the New Jersey attorney general's office.

Uribe, 57, testified in Manhattan federal court, serving as the star witness for the government's case against Menendez. According to Uribe, he believed there was a deal in 2018 for a sum of $200,000 to $250,000, in which Menendez would exert pressure on the attorney general's office to stop investigating Uribe's friends and family.

While Menendez's lawyers will have an opportunity to cross-examine Uribe next week, the senator expressed confidence, stating, "Next week we get the truth." Menendez has been on trial for the past month and has been vocal in Spanish when leaving court, but made his comment about the truth in English.

Menendez, once chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stepped down from the position after being charged in the fall of 2017. The prosecution alleges that Menendez accepted luxury items, cash, and gold bars in exchange for using his influence to benefit the businessmen involved. Two other businessmen and Menendez's wife, Nadine Menendez, have also pleaded not guilty. Nadine's trial has been postponed due to her recent breast cancer diagnosis.

Uribe, who pleaded guilty to charges earlier this year as part of a cooperation deal, revealed that he was close friends with one of the businessmen, Wael Hana, who is also on trial with Menendez. Uribe testified that Hana informed him in early 2018 that the ongoing criminal investigations surrounding their trucking and insurance businesses could be resolved if Uribe was willing to pay the mentioned amount.

Uribe further stated that Hana assured him that Nadine Arslanian, who was dating Menendez at the time, would discuss the matter with the senator. However, Uribe did not testify about the specifics of how the investigations could be resolved.

According to Uribe's testimony, he organized a political fundraiser for Menendez in July 2018, where the senator attended and raised $50,000. Subsequently, Uribe attended an afterparty with Menendez and Arslanian, but he mentioned that there was no mention of the expected work Menendez was supposed to do on his behalf during that gathering, describing it as a "crowded and loud place."

Uribe's confidence in the deal began to waver when an investigator from the attorney general's office requested an interview with one of Uribe's employees in the fall of that year. Feeling unhappy about this development, Uribe exchanged text messages with Hana, urging him to ensure that Menendez was aware of their situation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Pomerantz presented these text messages to the jury, where Uribe explicitly referred to Menendez as "your friend" in a conversation with Hana. Hana promised to relay the message to the senator.

Uribe testified that he had a dinner arranged with Menendez and Arslanian in October 2018, but no discussions regarding the deal took place. He described the meeting as "pointless." In March 2019, Uribe began communicating directly with Arslanian, and he promised to buy her a car if she delivered on the agreement to persuade Menendez to intervene and halt the criminal investigations.

When questioned about his understanding of the deal's terms, Uribe stated that he believed Arslanian would contact Menendez and use his influence and power to stop and terminate the ongoing investigations.

Former New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal also testified, revealing that Menendez had attempted to discuss a criminal probe with him in early 2019. Grewal, adhering to his policy, directed Menendez to contact defense lawyers for further action.

As the trial continues, the testimony of Jose Uribe looms large over Senator Menendez's legal battle. The courtroom drama is set to unfold further as the senator's defense team prepares to cross-examine the star witness.