“Former Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez could face more than a decade in prison when he is sentenced Wednesday for taking cash, a Mercedes Benz and gold bars as bribes in exchange for helping three New Jersey businessmen and the government of Egypt.

“Menendez was convicted in July of 16 felony counts for the long-running corruption scheme following a nine-week trial. He became the first US senator charged and convicted of acting as an agent of a foreign government. Dozens of witnesses testified, including one of the businessmen involved in the scheme.”

The sentencing is set for 2 p.m.

To see live:

Context, via CBS News:

More from InsiderNJ Columnist Fred Snowflack HERE.

Writes Snowflack:

Can Bob Menendez get a pardon from Donald Trump?

It sounds bizarre – even crazy. But we are in crazy times when invaders of the Capitol are simply excused.

We should know by now that there is nothing politically normal about Trump. That was true in his first term and it’s more true today.

He has remade the Republican Party to his liking, but by no means is he a philosophical Republican.

Traditional Republicans support free trade, not tariffs. And they support democracy overseas, not dictators. And they support law and order, not chaos.

So one has to get by the Democratic-Republican rubric in looking at this.

Menendez supporters, whoever they are, know that.

More from USA Today:

“Former Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., faces sentencing Wednesday on 16 federal felony convictions related to a bribery scheme in which he traded political influence for cash, gold bars and other goods with two Egyptian and New Jersey businessmen.

“Menendez represented New Jersey for more than 18 years in the U.S. Senate but resigned in August due to the charges. He could be sentenced to more than a decade in prison for the crimes.”