Former Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey made history this week in one of the worst possible ways.

According to Fox News, the former Democratic senator, who was charged and convicted of several counts of bribery and related charges, was sentenced to a staggering 11 years behind bars.

Menendez not only landed one of the harshest sentences that a U.S. senator has ever received, but he also became the first senator in history to be convicted as a foreign agent.

The disgraced senator held nothing back during his sentencing, eventually breaking down into tears and begging U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein for mercy as she rendered his prison sentence in the New York City courtroom.

What happened?

Menendez delivered a sob story explaining to the court during the sentencing hearing that he had "lost everything" as he attempted to draw pity from whoever would listen.

He also tried to erase the thought of the crimes he committed by pointing out that he feels he has done "farm more good than bad" during his time as a ranking U.S. senator.

"I have lost everything," he said. "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."

Ex Sen Menendez gets 11 years behind bars. He cried at the sentencing pic.twitter.com/u5GZTNmUB6

— 🇺🇸 ALF 🇺🇸 (@alffromthesouth) January 29, 2025

Right before handing down the sentence, the judge said "I take no pleasure in this sentence."

"You are quite right about your work. You worked your way up to a senator, to the chair of foreign relations committee," Stein told Menendez. "You were successful, powerful, stood at the apex of our political system. All letters are proof. Somewhere along the way, you lost your way."

Prosecutors showed no mercy

The prosecutors who went after Menendez didn't pull any punches in their arguments.

"As proven at trial, the defendants engaged, for years, in a corruption and foreign influence scheme of stunning brazenness, breadth, and duration, resulting in exceptionally grave abuses of power at the highest levels of the Legislative Branch of the United States Government," the prosecutors said.

After he exited the courthouse, Menendez accused the prosecutors of engaging in a political "witch hunt."

Many believe he also hinted at President Donald Trump for a pardon, which is unlikely to happen.