Anthony Weiner Asks for Leniency in Sexting Case

Former Congressman Anthony Weiner, whose series of sexting scandals triggered a very public fall from grace in recent years, has asked a judge for a lenient sentence in a sexting case against him. Weiner pleaded guilty in May to sending sexually explicit text messages to a 15-year-old girl, and he could face as much as 10 years behind bars for the charges. On Wednesday, however, his lawyers filed court documents asking the judge for probation and community service in lieu of prison time, Bloomberg News reports. His lawyers argue that “a term of imprisonment would bring Anthony’s indisputably successful treatment for the sickness underlying his crime to an immediate and complete halt.” A “non-incarceratory sentence” would enable Weiner to continue treatment, they argue. Weiner will have to register as a sex offender and give up his iPhone regardless of the punishment handed down at his Sept. 25 sentencing.