Richmond, Va. - At Petersburg Federal Correctional Institute, former Gov. Bob McDonnell will don a khaki shirt and khaki pants and earn a maximum of 40 cents an hour.
That's the prison the governor has requested, if his appeal fails. According to the facility's prisoner handbook and a spokesman, McDonnell would live in dormitory-style housing, and get no special treatment. He would be required to have a job such as landscaping, food-service or cleaning. He would get a chance to play organized sports like volleyball and soccer. He'd have access to television, email, a library and religious services.
As he prepares to report to prison next month, McDonnell's legal team is filing appeals, and also motions to keep McDonnell out of prison during the arguments. Local attorneys contacted by NewsChannel 3 speculated McDonnell's high-power team of veteran attorneys is costing upwards of $1 million. Some told us that because of the high-profile nature of the trial, the defense lawyers including John Brownlee, Hank Asbill and Tom Shuttleworth might not be charging their normal rates. Taxpayers shelled out nearly $800,000 for private lawyers while McDonnell was under investigation, but Attorney General Mark Herring shut off that tap. The lawyers hired for trial are funded in part with donations to a legal fund.
The judge ordered McDonnell to report to prison Feb. 9. It will ultimately be up to the Federal Bureau of Prisons to find a facility for him. His wife Maureen will be sentenced for her share of the corruption crimes on Feb. 20.
Related:
Former Va. Governor Bob McDonnell: “I have never ever betrayed my sacred oath of office”
Judge lowers sentencing guidelines for Bob McDonnell
Jack Abramoff’s prison advice for Bob McDonnell
Bob McDonnell’s lawyers asking for community service, not prison
