Bob Menendez asks for clemency in his conviction for corruption and blames his wife

The court’s leniency in his conviction of corruption is sought by American Senator Bob Menendez. Less than a month before Bob Menendez’s planned conviction his lawyers appealed for leniency based on the senator’s political career and loyalty to his family. CORVERSE According to the “New York Times”, in the memo filed by Menendez’s lawyers, Avi Weitzman and Adam Fee, they describe the Senator’s rise to political acclaim by his election to Hudson County, New Jersey, quoting a list of good deeds he did for voters during his three decades in Congress. As they did during Mr Menendez’s two-month trial for bribery in Manhattan, Mr. Weitzman and Fee point out in their memo that their client’s biggest failure was that he was lured by a “tolerant wife”. Nadine Menendez, the former senator’s wife, was accused along with her husband of conspiracy in order to trade his political influence for bribes in cash, gold rods and a Mercedes-Benz convertible. CORVERSE Her trial is expected to begin next month. “The evidence showed that Senator Menendez did not know about Nadine’s activities, including the receipt and sale of gold and cash bars stored in her locked closet and in her locker,” writes Senator’s lawyers in their memoir. Menendez’ daughter, Alicia, presenter on the MSNBC cable news network, in a letter of support, implied the sacrifices the former senator continued to make for his wife, who was hospitalized with breast cancer. “During the darkest days of his life, he managed to diagnose his wife’s breast cancer with a kind of grace and forgiveness that I honestly don’t understand but admire,” he wrote. ‘His sentence must not exceed 27 months’ A total of over 120 letters were filed by Menendez, who attempts to have a prison sentence much less than the 12 years recommended by the court’s parole department. His lawyers argue that any 12-year imprisonment would be “dragon – probably life and death penalty for someone Bob’s age and condition”. They consider that he should not be sentenced more than 27 months, although this, as they say, is great, while they called on the judge to impose a lesser penalty in conjunction with public service work. After all, the former head of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, who is currently 71, insists on his innocence and intends to appeal against the jury’s decision. However, the federal judge handling the case rejected his request not to release the sentence on 29 January and until the trial against his wife was completed. Menendez’s lawyers say the senator is certain to never commit future offences. “And his present condition, stripped of his office and living under a permanent shadow of shame and ridicule, is more than sufficient to reflect the seriousness of offenses and promote respect for the law.” In their memoir they note that daily there are countless small humiliations, to the point where his name was removed from New Jersey primary school, while the once wide circle of friends and political allies has disappeared.