Frankly, I think that they will need a pardon.
After reading the transcript, I am of the same opinion. The only area that I see as a possible success in the appeal is whether the trial judge improperly excluded the testimony regarding the 2nd "drug smuggling incident" I may have missed something, but it looks like the factual sufficiency grounds are out and I don't see anything else in the pre-trial or trial transcripts to show much hope on the appeal. There are some sealed documents, so they may yield something. At this point I give the appeal a 10% chance of success.