Former Virginia
Gov. Bob McDonnell
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell says in court papers that the favors he did for a wealthy businessman were routine courtesies and not part of a bribery scheme. McDonnell made the argument in papers filed late Wednesday with the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond. It’s his last brief before a May 12 hearing in his appeal of his public corruption convictions. McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, were convicted in a joint trial in September of accepting more than $165,000 in gifts and loans from former Star Scientific Inc. CEO Jonnie Williams in exchange for promoting his company’s nutritional supplements. Bob McDonnell was sentenced to two years in prison and his wife to one year and one day, but they remain free while they appeal.
