RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Former Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell says her public corruption convictions are based on an overly broad definition of bribery and she did not receive a fair trial due to a number of mistakes made by the presiding federal district court judge.
Her attorneys argued Monday in a 101-page court filing that McDonnell's conviction on several public corruption counts should be overturned.
McDonnell and her husband, former Gov. Bob McDonnell, 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 pursue separate appeals.
