Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell & Wife Found Guilty of Public Corruption

Ex-Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, were found guilty of public corruption. They face decades in prison. The McDonnells will be sentenced on January 6, the Washington Post reports.

A federal jury found Bob McDonnell, a one-time rising star in the Republican Party, guilty on 11 counts, and his wife guilty on nine counts. The couple was accused of taking lavish vacations, gifts, golf outings and $120,000 in sweetheart loans from a Richmond businessman, Jonnie R. Williams Sr.

Bob McDonnell is the first governor in Virginia’s history to be charged with a crime and to be convicted of one.

McDonnell was acquitted of lying on loan documents. His wife was also acquitted of lying on a loan document, but among the nine charges she was convicted with, obstruction of justice was one.

Virginia Attorney General on McDonnell verdict: ‘We have a long way to go to restore the public’s trust after this embarrassing and difficult period for the Commonwealth of Virginia. If there was somehow still any doubt, it should be crystal clear that the people of Virginia deserve real ethics reform that will turn off the spigot of gifts, tickets, and trips that opens the door to abuse and undermines public confidence in our government’ – @MarkHerringVA

This was cross-posted from The Hinterland Gazette.