Ex-US congressman Anthony Weiner sentenced to 21 months in prison over sexting scandal that rocked US presidential race
SHAMED ex-Congressman Anthony Weiner who sexted a 15-year-old girl in the run-up to Hillary Clinton's battle for US presidency - has been caged for 21 months.
The former New York mayoral candidate pleaded guilty to one charge of transferring obscene material to a minor, at Manhattan's Federal Court - in front of his parents.
Some believe his sexting scandal came to light at a horrible time for Mrs Clinton - and was partly to blame for her presidential defeat.
The sentencing completed the sordid downfall of the New York Democrat, whose penchant for exchanging lewd messages and photos with young women online destroyed his career in Congress in 2011 and his bid for mayor of New York in 2013.
As he was sentenced by Judge Denise Cotes, the 53-year-old dropped his head into his hands and wept .
In shock and complete disbelief, Weiner - who was married to Clinton's long-time personal aide Huma Abedin - sat in his seat for several minutes after the court was adjourned, continuing to cry.
As he pleaded guilty, Weiner admitted: "I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse."
He begged to be spared form prison on Monday, tearfully telling Judge Cotes that he was "a very sick man for a very long time".
Weeping throughout his statement, Weiner called his crime a summary of his "rock bottom".
FBI cops began to investigate Weiner's contact with the high school student when their sexual exchanges came across his emails and were displayed on his laptop.
Prosecutors told the court that Weiner had sent the young girl porn, and got her to take her clothes off and touch herself on Skype.
Two days before Election Day, the FBI announced there was nothing new in the emails.
But Clinton has blamed Comey's handling of the episode more than any other factor for her loss to Donald Trump. In a recent NBC interview, she called the FBI director's intervention "the determining factor" in her defeat.
Wearing his wedding ring, Weiner seemed pensive just before Monday's hearing began.
Although his parents were in the courtroom his wife was reportedly not present.
He and Abedin, who have a 5-year-old, are going through divorce proceedings.
Weiner was also fined $10,000. After his sentence is served, he must undergo internet monitoring and must have no contact with his victim. He must also enrol in a sex-offender treatment program.
Before announcing the sentence, Cote said there was "no evidence of deviant interest in teenagers or minors" on Weiner's part.
She also said he is finally receiving effective treatment for what she said has been described as "sexual hyperactivity."
In her new memoir, "What Happened," Clinton revealed that Weiner's wife "looked stricken" and burst into tears upon learning her husband had triggered Comey's "October surprise."
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