An appellate court ruled Monday that the federal government was correct to seize about $250,000 worth of property from former state Sen. Thomas Bromwell that was never alleged to be involved in any wrongdoing.

The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals declined to rehear the matter en banc ? with all the judges present. In other words, the judges believe the government had the authorityto take legitimate assets to replace suspicious funds they could not locate.