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Ex-Mass. House Speaker DiMasi Seeks Bail

Former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi is hoping a federal judge will allow him to stay out of prison while he appeals his conviction on corruption charges.

DiMasi is scheduled to begin his eight-year sentence on Nov. 19. Co-defendant Richard McDonough is also set to report for his seven-year sentence on that day.

The two men will ask U.S. District Court Judge Mark Wolf at a Friday hearing to grant bail so they can remain free while their lawyers pursue appeals which can take years to complete.

Their lawyers will argue that there is a substantial likelihood that the U.S. Appeals Court will overturn their convictions. Since the two men are 66 years old, their attorneys say they should remain free rather than awaiting the decision inside prison.

Federal prosecutors are opposing the motion.

DiMasi was found guilty in June of charges he steered two state contracts to a software firm in exchange for kickbacks.

The Associated Press and WBUR's David Boeri contributed to this report.

This program aired on September 23, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.

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