RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Five former Virginia attorneys general won’t be allowed to file court papers arguing that public corruption charges against ex-Gov. Bob McDonnell should be dismissed.
U.S. District Judge James Spencer says in a one-page order Monday that he declines to exercise his discretion to accept the friend-of-the-court brief. He did not give any other reason.
Spencer previously rejected a similar request by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
The former Republican governor and his wife, Maureen, are charged in a 14-count indictment with accepting more than $165,000 from the former CEO of a dietary supplements company in exchange for helping promote his products.
The former attorneys general - three Democrats and two Republicans - said in their proposed brief that federal prosecutors are stretching the law’s definition of bribery.
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