In the Northern Marianas, the lawyer for the former lieutenant governor, Timothy Villagomez, has filed a new motion to allow the former leader his freedom while his appeal is pending.
Guam lawyer, David Lujan, says Villagomez is neither a flight risk nor a danger to the community.
He also pointed out the apparent existence of appellate issues that, according to him, should be deemed fairly debatable.
Last week, the U.S. District Court for the CNMI sentenced Villagomez to seven years and three months in prison for his role in a corruption scandal.
Villagomez's sister, Joaquina Santos, and her husband, former Commerce Secretary James Santos, were sentenced to six years and six months in prison each for their involvement in the scheme to defraud the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation and the United States.
The court allowed the continued release of the defendants pending the designation of a federal prison facility where they will serve their sentences.
