Former Virginia governor, wife will not get new trial

RICHMOND, Va. — A federal judge has denied the request of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, for a new trial. The two were convicted on public corruption charges in September.

Judge James R. Spencer rejected the McDonnells' request for a new trial and their arguments that the guilty verdicts should be overturned.

But Spencer did toss a jury's decision that Maureen McDonnell was guilty of obstructing justice. Spencer said prosecutors did not prove that she attempted to mislead a federal grand jury investigation.

Maureen McDonnell is now guilty of eight counts instead of nine. She is set to be sentenced next year.

In October, Bob McDonnell's lawyers filed a memorandum laying out four reasons for a new trial.

The former governor was convicted of 11 counts, including conspiracy and extortion, of performing official acts to promote a businessman's dietary supplement products in exchange for more than $165,000 in gifts, trips and loans.

Contributing: Nick Ochsner, WVEC-TV, Hampton-Norfolk, Va.; The Associated Press

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