This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein has handed a sobbing former Sen. Bob Menendez, a Democrat, 11 years in prison for convictions of bribery and corruption.
Prosecutors had asked for a 15-year term for the 71-year-old, and his lawyers initially asked for a two-year sentence, revising their request to eight years after the judge sentenced co-conspirators to terms of that length.
Reports said Menendez was sobbing as he was sentenced.
A report at the Gateway Pundit noted Menendez resigned in August after Chuck Schumer, then the Senate majority leader, and other Democrats pressured him.
At the time, Menendez claimed he would be appealing his conviction "all the way and including to the Supreme Court."
He also said he was "proud of the many accomplishments I've had on behalf of New Jersey, such as leading the federal effort for Superstorm Sandy recovery, preserving and funding Gateway and leading the federal efforts to help save our hospitals, State and municipalities, as well as New Jersey families through a once in a century COVID pandemic."
He was accused in a superseding indictment of acting as a foreign agent, with allegations he gave "sensitive U.S. government" details to Egypt.
He and his wife also were accused of obstruction of justice.
Investigators found $500,000 in cash stuffed in envelopes and gold bars in the couple's home.
"This case has always been about shocking levels of corruption, hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in the form of cash, gold bars, a Mercedes Benz. This wasn't politics as usual, this was politics for profit. And now that a jury has convicted Bob Menendez, his years of selling his office to the highest bidder have finally come to an end," Damian Williams, U.S. attorney, said earlier in the case.
