Posted on 01/26/2015 11:44:42 AM PST by csvset
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) A federal appeals court has approved former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnells request to remain free while he appeals his corruption convictions.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond said McDonnells appeal raises a substantial question of law or fact that could warrant reversal or a new trial.
Special coverage: The McDonnel corruption trial
The court also ordered that briefs in the case be filed by March 2 and set a May 12 hearing.
A jury last year found McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, guilty of taking gifts and loans from a vitamin executive in exchange for promoting his products.
McDonnell was scheduled to begin his two-year prison term Feb. 9.
Federal prosecutors had opposed McDonnells request to remain free on bail pending his appeal.
Why can’t his ass sit in jail? I’m SURE we would all be sitting in jail during our appeal, if we were convicted of such a thing.
Chris Matthews is NOT impressed!
I think the best he can hope for as a result of his appeal is a slight reduction in sentence.
Clamoring to stay out of jail just makes him appear to be unwilling to accept responsibility for his actions.
If I was him, I’d insist on immediately starting to serve my sentence. That projects the appearance of accepting responsibility, and it opens up the possibility of a sympathetic judge reducing his sentence to “time served” when the appeal is heard, even if it’s only been a few months.
I can envision it now: “This court can see that Mr. McDonnell is contrite and has accepted responsibility for his actions. On his own accord, he dutifully reported to prison to begin his sentence. During his incarceration he has been a model prisoner. He and his family have suffered greatly. Human compassion, and even our own State Constitution implore us to temper our justice with mercy, and I see no reason why this honorable yet flawed man should not receive the benefit of that mercy... ...etc. etc.”
What was his crime? Governing While Republican?
The Judge’s jury instructions were not fair.
It appears the Court of Appeals believes the conviction might be overturned. The entire case was highly controversial, and some might say, politically motivated. Why, under those circumstances, would he spend a day in prison?
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