The defense rested its case in the New York bribery trial against Bob Menendez -- without the New Jersey senator testifying. Lawyers for Menendez called several witnesses over two days in an effort to counter seven weeks of testimony and hundreds of exhibits and communications introduced by Manhattan federal prosecutors.  

Menendez maintains his innocence, pleading not guilty to accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in gold and cash in exchange for using his political status to deliver favors to the benefit of three New Jersey businessmen. 

Two of them are on trial with him. The third testified against him.

Menendez faces charges of bribery, fraud, extortion and other offenses. After the charges were announced, he was forced out of his powerful post as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

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