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‘Quit bickering’ judge warns lawyers in McDonnell case

Posted at 1:23 PM, Mar 18, 2014
and last updated 2014-03-18 13:23:29-04

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – U.S. District Judge James Spencer had a message for federal prosecutors and lawyers representing former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen — “Get to it.”

Judge Spencer admonished both sides during a motions hearing at the federal courthouse in downtown Richmond Tuesday. He said they needed to quit bickering and come together to fix problems they have in the procedural aspects of trying and defending such a unique case.

Judge Spencer denied a request by Gov. Bob McDonnell’s lawyers for federal prosecutors to give them more information about former Star Scientific CEO Johnny Williams.

Gov. McDonnell and his wife were indicted in connection to their relationship Williams. In January, the McDonnells entered not guilty pleas to federal charges that they accepted illegal gifts while in office.

Dozens of motions have been filed within the last week, and some of them revealed more about the possible means of defense the McDonnells plan to use in court, including referencing activities of other former governors, and potentially implicating former staffers.