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Anthony Weiner, the disgraceful former Democratic Congressman of New York received a harsh sentence for sexting with a teenager.

On Monday, Judge Denise Cote of the Federal District Court of Manhattan sentenced Weiner to 21 months in prison.

Judge Cote also ordered the former New York congressman to pay $10,000 in penalty. He must undergo internet monitory after serving his sentence and enroll in a sex-offender treatment program.

During the sentencing, Judge Cote explained that it is necessary to “make a statement that can protect other minors" because the case if highly publicized.

Additionally, the judge noted that Weiner was repeatedly caught sexting. The difficulty in his case is the existence of a "very strong compulsion" although he made “great strides” in treatment.

Weiner cried after the judge announced the sentence. He must surrender to prison officials on November 6.

Weiner requested mercy from the judge

On September 13, Weiner expressed profound regret and apologized for his crime in a letter to Judge Cote. He admitted endangering the wellbeing of a 15-year-old girl, crushing the aspirations of her wife and ruining their marriage. His wife is Huma Abedin, a top aide to Hillary Clinton.

In his letter, Weiner also told Judge Cote that he is recovering from his mental order the corrupted his judgement. He requested the judge for mercy to be able to continue getting better and fix the damage he has done.

Aside from letter, his lawyers also appeared in court and asked Judge Cote to grant him probation. They cited that he made “remarkable progress” over the past year.

Prosecutors argued that Weiner deserved incarceration

On the other hand, prosecutors argued that probation was “simply inadequate” punishment for his crime. They emphasized that Weiner committed a serious crime and deserved imprisonment. The y recommended a prison sentence of 21 to 27 months.

According to the prosecutors, “Weiner, a grown man, a father, and a former lawmaker, willfully and knowingly asked a 15-year-old girl to display her body and engage in sexually explicit conduct for him online. Such conduct warrants a meaningful sentence of incarceration."