University of Virginia President Teresa Sullivan is asking a federal judge to go easy on former Gov. Bob McDonnell ahead of Tuesday’s sentencing, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. She’s one of the more than 400writing in support of the former Virginia governor and onetime Republican rising star who now faces jail time over corruption charges.
In a five-paragraph note to Judge James Spencer, who presides over the case, she explained their professional relationship, saying they exchanged cell phone numbers and met one-on-one to talk official business.
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“I hope that these observations are helpful to you as you consider sentencing, and I hope that you will consider a lenient sentence,” Sullivan wrote in the letter dated Oct. 11. She added the disclaimer that it was not an official statement from the university.









