Another key witness took the stand today in the federal corruption trial of Senator Bob Menendez.

This time it was his close friend and political ally, Phillip Selinger, New Jersey's powerful U.S. attorney.

Government lawyers peppered Selinger with questions about exactly how he got his job and whether he made any promises to Senator Menendez in return.

Menendez is accused, among other charges, of trying to influence the state's top federal prosecutor from pursuing a case against his codefendant, Fred Davies.

The real estate developer was previously charged with bank fraud by the office.

Selinger now runs.

His testimony followed a long day of work by the defense as they tried to discredit the prosecution's other star witness.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan has been inside the Manhattan courtroom for us all day and joins us live with the details.

Brenda.

Hey, how you doing, Brianna?

Listen, today was the day that essentially the defense took its final pot shots at the star witness for the prosecution, Jose Uribe.

And they tried to convince the jury that not only is Uribe a liar, which they went on, they went on about yesterday and on Friday, but they tried to convince them that he's also a drunk who abuses Xanax and they tried to do this to discredit his testimony.

The defense attorney, Adam Feet, essentially challenged the accuracy of everything that Uribe has testified to in terms of his his liking to drink, that they showed credit card receipts that he had racked up at a bar in Teaneck.

They also claimed that he was intoxicated on the night that he made this agreement with Senator Menendez, sat with him out on the patio behind the couple's home in Englewood Cliffs and made the ask, said, please, can you help me with this situation?

And that, Menendez said, I will look into it.

Menendez also allegedly told Uribe, Look, you better be careful because there are cops looking for drunk drivers out here.

And the inference to the jury is that Uribe was too intoxicated to really know what he was doing, to remember what he was doing and to accurately represent this to the jury.

Now you have a shot back.

He said, look, I'm not sitting was a U.S. senator.

And to discuss a serious matter when I'm intoxicated.

And that Menendez did promise that quid pro quo.

Did the prosecution, Brian, get another chance at sort of saving the reputation of their witness?

They did.

I mean, they had obviously to do some clean up and on redirect, that's what they did.

They took Uribe point by point through this entire litany.

Yes, it was a deal in exchange for Menendez.

His influence that Menendez in a phone call did confirm that thing you asked about.

It's nothing.

I give you peace.

And the peace is code word for this is resolved.

Now, Uribe's told the jury, my only job while on this witness stand is to tell you the truth.

And he just reaffirmed that, that he was not stretching things just there to give them the truth.

Ask you about this other witness, Brenda, another prominent official, Philip Selinger.

What's happened so far in his testimony?

Well, the sitting U.S. attorney for New Jersey, he's known Robert Menendez for a long time.

He helped him campaign for Congress.

He was a fundraiser.

He's been a friend of the senators for years and years.

They would golf together.

But apparently, the senator told him at one point that he was unhappy about how a former U.S. attorney in New Jersey was handling a case involving Fred DAVIES.

DAVIES is a developer who is a codefendant in this case, and Menendez was indicating that he wasn't happy about how the U.S. attorney was handling the case.

Now, when they discussed whether Menendez would nominate Challenger to be New Jersey's new U.S. attorney, there was never a direct question.

According to Challenger, not and ask about any case involving DAVIES.

However, he did indicate in a phone call afterwards that, you know, I might have to recuse myself because I've been involved in lawsuits that had clients involving DAVIES, and therefore, I might not be able to do anything for you.

And that apparently convinced, you know, the inferences that it convinced Menendez not to nominate him.

So it sounds like the next chapter.

And the discussion.

Phase for this prosecution.

Brenda Flanagan for us in Manhattan.

Brenda, thanks so much.