Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell

Former Virginia
Gov. Bob McDonnell

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Federal prosecutors say there is plenty of evidence to support former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s public corruption convictions. In court filings Thursday, prosecutors told the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that it’s clear McDonnell took steps to benefit a wealthy vitamin executive who lavished the former governor and his wife with low-interest loans and expensive gifts. The brief filed Thursday disputes McDonnell’s claim that his convictions were based on an overly broad definition of what constitutes an “official act” by an elected official. The appeals court has scheduled arguments in the case for May 12. A jury in September found McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, guilty of doing favors for former Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams in exchange for more than $165,000 in gifts and loans.