A federal judge is expected to rule Tuesday on former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s (R) request to have most of the corruption charges against him thrown out, according to the Associated Press.
McDonnell and his wife, Maureen McDonnell, were charged in January with illegally accepting gifts, trips, and loans from a Virginia businessman and political donor. The couple have pleaded not guilty, and their lawyers have argued that prosecutors are trying to criminalize regular political behavior. The repeated those arguments in court on Monday.
U.S. District Judge James Spencer is also expected to rule Tuesday on the McDonnells’ request for a separate trial. The couple’s lawyers have said that Maureen McDonnell’s testimony “could exonerate her husband from many of the charges,” according to the Associated Press.
The McDonnells’ trial is expected to begin in late July.
