× Thanks for reading! Log in to continue. Enjoy more articles by logging in or creating a free account. No credit card required. Log in Sign up {{featured_button_text}}

Prosecutors and defense lawyers in the long-running, hard-fought corruption case of former Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, are now battling over page counts.

Lawyers for McDonnell, who is due to be sentenced Jan. 6, have filed a motion asking U.S. District Judge James R. Spencer for permission to exceed a 30-page limit on McDonnell’s sentencing memorandum.

“The government will likely ask for a very substantial prison sentence for conduct the defense submits is outside the heartland for public corruption cases,” wrote McDonnell’s lawyers in their motion Monday.

In addition to addressing issues the government is expected to raise, they contend additional pages are needed to address “the entire life of the defendant” and are asking for permission to file a 50-page memorandum on Dec. 23, when all the parties are required to file their positions on sentencing.

The U.S. attorney’s office strongly opposes the request.

“Mr. McDonnell stands before this court convicted of 11 felonies. He should be afforded no greater or lesser consideration from this court than any other defendants. As such, his motion that the court set aside the page limitations ... for every other criminal defendant should be denied,” they wrote.