RICHMOND, Va. -- Attorneys for Bob McDonnell Monday filed the opening brief of the appeal with the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals seeking reversal on all convictions.
The former governor released the following statement:
“The Appeals Court has clearly indicated that major issues should be heard during this process. I am confident that the verdict will be overturned and my innocence restored.”
The key components from the filings include:
- The Government’s case against former Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell is built on a boundless definition of bribery that the Supreme Court has rejected, that the statutory text precludes, and that contravenes the decisions of every court to consider it.
- The alleged bribe payor received no grants, no bills, no appointments, no budget items, no permits, and not a dime of state money. Nor did he receive any promises of the same. He got nothing besides a few routine courtesies indistinguishable from the courtesies elected officials across the country reflexively extend to benefactors, donors, and other constituents every single day.
- This Court should reject the Government’s attempt to mint a new criminal prohibition in this prosecution. The theory alone is dangerous. Its sudden creation to pursue a high-profile target directly attacks the rule of law.
- The Government gave Williams transactional immunity not only for potential public corruption charges and lying to federal agents, but also for unrelated securities and tax crimes exposing him to decades in prison and tens of millions of dollars in fines and restitution.
Here is a link to the full filing: http://bit.ly/1F2RgMu
