UPDATE – Tuesday – 5/20/14, 11:30 a.m. ET
Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell will face corruption charges in a July trial. A judge denied motions to toss out the charges.
EARLIER – Tuesday – 5/20/14, 8:30 a.m. ET
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A federal judge in Richmond is deciding whether to toss out most of the corruption charges against former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen.
U.S. District Judge James R. Spencer is also set to decide Tuesday whether the former first couple should be tried together or separately.
The Republican and his wife are charged in a 14-count indictment with accepting more than $165,000 from Jonnie Williams, the former CEO of dietary supplements maker Star Scientific Inc.
In exchange, prosecutors say, they would help promote his products.
The McDonnells are also charged with lying on bank loan documents.
A jury trial that is expected to last at least five weeks is scheduled to begin in late July.
The McDonnells have pleaded not guilty.
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