News

Actions

Norfolk City Treasurer returns to work after jury finds him guilty of corruption, perjury

Posted at 6:53 PM, Dec 12, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-12 19:52:48-05

NORFOLK, Va. - Anthony Burfoot will not step down as Norfolk City Treasurer, despite being found guilty of taking bribes and perjury on Friday by a jury.

Burfoot came to work Monday at Norfolk City Hall, just like any normal day.

Under state law, Burfoot can stay in office until all his appeals are exhausted.

But on January 7, Burfoot is facing a court hearing surrounding an effort by some to recall him from office as the Norfolk City Treasurer.

The judge in that case has the right to suspend him from his position.

“This process is far from over and will be premature to precipitously resign just because there are calls for him to,” said Andrew Sacks, Burfoot's defense attorney.

Bob Brown has been calling for Burfoot to resign for several months. Brown led the Citizen Recall Committee, which gathered over 6,000 signatures on a recall petition.

“Mr. Burfoot should do the honorable thing and resign and he should let us move forward. We shouldn't have to go through this,” said Brown.  “There's angst in the community. People simply don't trust him.”

Burfoot was found guilty of six charges in his federal corruption trial on Friday, including all four of the corruption charges and two of the four perjury charges he faced.

Sacks said they plan to appeal the case and that Burfoot has no plans to step down.

This issue is expected to be discussed at the next Norfolk City Council Meeting Tuesday at 7 p.m.