Sept. 25 (UPI) — Former Rep. Anthony Weiner was sentenced to 21 months in prison on Monday for engaging in lewd text messages with a teenage girl.
Weiner, 53, had pleaded guilty to one count of transferring obscene material to a minor. The conviction carried a potential 10 years in prison.
Prosecutors said Weiner violated the law by sending pornography to the 15-year-old girl, and persuading her to undress while the two were communicating on computers by Skype and Snapchat. Testimony indicated he and the girl exchanged a series of lewd text messages.
In federal court in New York City Monday, Weiner cried and pleaded for no jail time. He wept again as District Court Judge Denise Cote read the sentence.
Weiner’s attorneys sought probation, citing his “remarkable progress.” In a letter to the judge, the former congressman acknowledged that his actions ruined his marriage.
Federal prosecutors argued that probation would be inadequate.
“Although the defendant’s self-destructive path from United States congressman to felon is indisputably sad, his crime is serious and his demonstrated need for deterrence is real,” prosecutors wrote to the judge.
Weiner must surrender to authorities by Nov. 6.
A Democratic representative, Weiner served two New York City boroughs from 1999 to 2011. His former wife, Huma Abedin, was an aide to Hillary Clinton while she was secretary of state.
