A federal judge sentenced Bob Menendez, the former US Senator for New Jersey, to 11 years in prison Wednesday. Additionally, he must forfeit over $900,000.

Menendez was found guilty last year on 16 counts, including bribery, corruption, and conspiracy to act as a foreign agent, after receiving more than $500,000 in cash, $100,000 in gold bars, and a Mercedes-Benz. Prosecutors argued he took the bribes in exchange for facilitating military aid to Egypt and protecting the financial and legal interests of several businessmen.

For these acts, prosecutors sought a 15-year prison term—arguing his actions were significant breaches of public trust and national security. Menendez’s attorneys argued for no jail time, claiming his Senate resignation and destroyed reputation were punishment enough. US District Judge Sidney Stein ordered Menendez begin his sentence on June 6, allowing him time to attend his wife’s corruption trial in March; her trial was separated due to ongoing treatment for breast cancer.

Stein told Menendez at sentencing that “[t]he public cannot be led to believe that you can get away with bribery and fraud and betraying the voters of New Jersey.” In court, Menendez claimed that despite his mistakes, he believed he had done “far more good than bad.” But speaking to reporters outside the courthouse after sentencing, the former Democratic senator stated: “Welcome to the Southern District of New York, the Wild West of political prosecutions. President Trump is right: this process is political, and it’s corrupted to the core. I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system.” That statement and additional sources indicate that Menendez, who voted to convict Trump in both impeachment trials, is seeking clemency from Trump.