Lawyers for former Senator Bob Menendez, less than a month before his sentencing was announced, as he was found guilty of the 16 charges he faced, including acting as an agent of a foreign government.

Lawyers for the philandering senator, as at his trial, insisted that Menendez was lured by his wife Nadine. Making extensive reference to his political career, the two lawyers said his biggest failure was being swept away by a deceitful wife, as reported by the New York Times.

Nadine Menendez was charged along with her husband with conspiracy to trade his political influence for cash bribes, gold bars, and a Mercedes-Benz convertible. Her trial is expected to begin next month.

“He did not know about Nadine’s activities”

“The evidence showed that Senator Menendez was unaware of Nadine’s activities, including the receipt and sale of gold bars and cash stored in her locked closet and safe deposit box,” they wrote.

Menendez’s daughter, Alicia, who is an anchor on the cable news network MSNBC, in a letter of support, alluded to the sacrifices the former senator continued to make for his wife, who was being treated for breast cancer.

“During the darkest days of his life, he handled his wife’s breast cancer diagnosis with a kind of grace and forgiveness that I honestly don’t understand but admire,” he wrote.

In all, more than 120 letters were filed on behalf of Bob Menendez, who is seeking a prison sentence far shorter than the 12 years recommended by the court’s parole division. His lawyers argue that any 12-year sentence would be “draconian – possibly life and death for someone of Bob’s age and condition.” They believe he should not be given a sentence of more than 27 months, although they say this is a long sentence, and have urged the judge to impose a shorter sentence coupled with community service.

Besides, the former head of the Foreign Affairs Committee, who is now 71, maintains his innocence and plans to appeal the jury’s verdict. However, the federal judge handling the case rejected his request that the sentence not be announced on January 29 until the trial against his wife is completed.

“Permanent shadow of shame and ridicule”

Menendez’s lawyers say he is certain to never commit future offenses. “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 the offenses and to promote respect for the law.”

In the same report, they note that he is subjected to countless minor humiliations daily, to the point that his name was removed from a New Jersey elementary school, and his once wide circle of friends and political allies has disappeared.