HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) A federal appeals court has upheld the political corruption conviction of former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland. A three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City rejected Rowland's appeal Friday.

Rowland was sentenced to a 2 .5-year prison term last year following his conviction on a charge of conspiring to disguise work he did on a failed 2012 congressional campaign. He is free on bail. His attorney, Andrew Fish, said the government withheld evidence that would have benefited the defense and has misapplied a federal law. Fish didn't immediately return messages Friday. Prosecutors denied those charges and argued the conviction should stand.

Rowland resigned from office in 2004 amid a corruption scandal and served 10 months in prison for taking illegal gifts.