Former Sen. Bob Menendez began serving an 11-year prison sentence on Tuesday at a federal facility in Pennsylvania.

The 71-year-old New Jersey Democrat was convicted on 16 counts, including bribery and acting as a foreign agent for Egypt, after a 2023 trial revealed he sold political influence for cash and gold.

Once chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Menendez joins a short list of senators to serve time.

He and his co-defendants are appealing their convictions, raising constitutional issues that could reach the Supreme Court, Politico has reported.

Menendez has also hinted at seeking a pardon from former President Trump.

Written by B.C. Begley