Federal Appeals Court Grants Bond for Former Va. Gov. Bob McDonnell
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Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — A federal appeals court granted bond to former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell pending an appeal of his conviction on corruption charges.
McDonnell was convicted in September 2014 on 11 of 13 charges. Prosecutors said that McDonnell, while governor, traded favors in exchange for $177,000 in gifts and loans from a wealthy friend who was trying to promote a business.
A statement from a spokesman for McDonnell’s legal team said that the appeal “will be a strong one, and many such cases have been overturned on the grounds that the nature of the ‘official acts’ weren’t indeed illegal.” The spokesman also said that the appeal will likely take longer than McDonnell’s two-year sentence.
The court found that McDonnell “is not likely to flee or pose a danger to the safety of any other person or community fi released.” Further, the court documents say, “the appeal is not for the purpose of delay.”
Opening briefs in the appeal trial are scheduled for March 2, with oral arguments slated for May 12.
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