Former Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell says he will file a motion to dismiss the 14-count indictment against him, according to court papers filed on Tuesday. McDonnell’s lawyers will file a motion to dismiss the indictment by March 25. U.S. District Judge James Spencer scheduled a hearing on motions for May 19th.
On Jan. 21, McDonnell and his wife Maureen were indicted on federal corruption charges. The McDonnells are charged with accepting more than $165,000 in illegal gifts, trips and loans from former Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams in exchange for helping promote Williams’s company’s products. After a month long federal investigation McDonnell insisted he did not break the law and vowed to fight “these false allegations.”
McDonnell is the first governor of Virginia to be indicted for actions committed during his tenure. The trial is set for July 28 and is expected to last between five and six weeks.
