Additional Coverage:
- Menendez’s lawyers seek lenient sentence, saying conviction made him a ‘national punchline’ (newsbreak.com)
Former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez is scheduled to be sentenced on July 29 for bribery charges. His lawyers are requesting leniency, arguing that Menendez’s life of good deeds should be taken into consideration.
Despite his conviction, the lawyers emphasize Menendez’s positive actions and the hardships he has faced. They note that he has lost his Senate seat, friends, and financial stability since the charges were filed.
Menendez’s lawyers argue that federal sentencing guidelines should result in a two-year prison term, while the Probation Department recommends 12 years. They believe a custodial sentence is unnecessary given his age, health, and the suffering he has already endured.
The Probation Department’s recommended sentence of 12 years is considered harsh by Menendez’s lawyers, who maintain that the guidelines actually call for a two-year term. Federal prosecutors are expected to present their sentencing recommendations later this month.