Disgraced former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, the New Jersey Democrat convicted in a bribery scandal, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein.
According to Fox News, Menendez broke down in tears and begged the judge for mercy.
Menendez, who was always there when a vote was needed to push some gun control scheme, was described by the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s (NSSF) Larry Keane as “a thorn in the side of the firearm industry.”
Keane, who serves as NSSF senior vice president and general counsel, wrote, “The gun-controlling politician has railed for stricter gun control, called for bans on entire classes of firearms, taken money from gun control groups to advance a gun ban agenda and has done all he could to undo the export reforms for the firearm industry to reduce redundancies and regulatory costs associated with export licensing, while increasing national security.”
Almost two years ago, Menendez joined 27 of his anti-gun Senate colleagues to introduce a bill seeking to ban so-called “high-capacity magazines.”
He also put forth legislation to restrict imports of suppressors.
In the courtroom, according to Fox, Menendez stated, “I have lost everything. Other than family, I have lost everything I care about. Every day I am awake is punishment. I am far from a perfect man… in half-century of public service, I have done far more good than bad.”
Menendez was convicted in July of last year on 16 counts, and was quickly thrown under the bus by former political allies. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-New York) quickly called on Menendez to resign at the time. Likewise, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Menendez should step down.
