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Bob Menendez is accused of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts and campaign contributions as bribes to do official favors. | Getty Menendez judge: Some corruption defendants getting off too easy

The federal judge handling the corruption case against Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) is publicly lamenting—in another, unrelated case— the light sentences given to defendants who admit to such crimes but agree to cooperate with prosecutors.

At a sentencing hearing Wednesday for a New Jersey contractor who pleaded guilty in a bid-rigging scheme, U.S. District Court Judge William Walls repeatedly called "ridiculous" the light sentences given to cooperating defendants, according to a report in the New Jersey Record.

"That is so ridiculous it makes no sense in the context of true law enforcement," Walls said. "This is sheer legal nonsense ... If you swindle the government, regardless of your status, you should go to jail."

Despite the tongue-lashing he gave prosecutors for recommending leniency, the judge imposed a relatively light sentence on renovation contractor Leovaldo Fundora, who took part in a bid-rigging scheme that cost the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development an estimated $120,000 to $200,000.

Walls agreed to sentence Fundora to three years probation as well as fines and restitution totaling about $75,000, but the judge warned he'd be insisting on jail time in the future.

"This is absolutely ridiculous and I will not do it again," Walls told the prosecutor handling the case, according to the Record. "The society is being swindled, and your office seems to care about notching wins."

A spokesman for U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman defended prosecutors' requests for leniency for cooperating defendants and noted that judges ultimately have the final say on any sentence.

Walls, a senior judge appointed by President Bill Clinton, is overseeing the case in which Menendez is accused of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts and campaign contributions as bribes to do official favors for a Florida ophthalmologist also charged in the case, Dr. Salomon Melgen.

Both men have entered not guilty pleas, but Walls has rejected most of the defense motions challenging the charges. Menendez's appeal seeking to toss out the case on grounds it invaded Menendez's Constitutional privileges as a lawmaker was rejected last month by a federal appeals court panel. Menendez's lawyers have asked the full bench of the Philadelphia-based 3rd Circuit to take up the issue.

Walls' call for tougher sentences for some defendants seems likely not to be welcome news for defendants in Menendez and Melgen's position. An attorney for Menendez did not respond to a request for comment on Walls' remarks.

Josh Gerstein is a senior reporter for POLITICO.