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The Verdict is In: McDonnell Guilty of Influence Peddling

The Verdict is In: McDonnell Guilty of Influence Peddling

Bad news for one of the GOP’s rising stars.

A federal jury has convicted former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell on eleven of fourteen counts of conspiracy, bribery, and extortion.

The trial, which lasted more than a month and spurred 17 hours of jury deliberation, laid bare charges that Governor and First Lady McDonnell used their power and influence to promote the Anatabloc supplement company, owned by Jonnie Williams, in exchange for money and gifts including a shopping spree and a $6,000 Rolex watch.


Via the New York Times:

“This is a difficult, disappointing day for the Commonwealth,” said Dana J. Boente, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, whose office prosecuted the McDonnells, who are facing years in prison. “When public officials turn to financial gain for official actions we have little chance but to prosecute the case.”

Asked whether Mr. McDonnell will appeal, his lawyer, Henry W. Asbill, said “Of course.” He said he was “shocked” by the verdict.

The McDonnells were indicted on 14 counts of conspiracy, bribery, extortion and related charges stemming from what prosecutors said was a scheme to sell the office of governor, which Mr. McDonnell occupied through January this year, for $177,000 in gifts and cash from a dietary supplements executive.

Marueen McDonnell was also convicted on nine counts, in spite of the defense team’s strategy of presenting the couple as estranged.

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Comments

Good riddance.

To bad rubbish.

DINORightMarie | September 4, 2014 at 6:41 pm

As in the case of Texas and Tom DeLay, this is not covered in the press for what it is: a witch hunt.

McDonnell did nothing illegal. Stupid, yes. But nothing was ever done that was a quid pro quo or favor-for-money. Nothing was proven in the court room; it was all about “inappropriate” and “he should have’s”. The coverage by the NYT, the WaPo, the AP, the Richmond Times-Dispatch……all leftist biased, to say the least. Reading what he said, what the witnesses testified to in court – it was all about implying inappropriateness – but nothing they did was ILLEGAL. They will appeal, as did DeLay…….and hopefully they will see justice.

The Richmond leftist are out for all Republicans (yes, I live in VA, and know of what I speak). They wanted to ensure that this anti-abortion, mostly Conservative governor would have NO political future, regardless of whether he did anything illegal. McDonnell’s political future is toast – gone.

Mission accomplished.

    RickCaird in reply to DINORightMarie. | September 4, 2014 at 8:44 pm

    It is possible McDonald is the odd man out, but besides Delay, we have the crazy indictment of Perry, the investigation of Chris Christie, and the witch hunt of Scott Walker. It seems the Democrats strategy is to use lawfare to target Republican governors.

    But, no one is looking into the wealth generated by Harry Reid and the favors for Pelosi’s husband.

      Deodorant in reply to RickCaird. | September 5, 2014 at 1:47 pm

      So high officials in the Christie administration and his political operatives didn’t cause a gigantic traffic jam because they were pissed at a democratic mayor who didn’t want to endorse him? They didn’t have a good time while it was going on?

      It was only stopped because a courageous lower level professional risked his career to stop it.

      Christie is proud to be depicted as a bully.

    Deodorant in reply to DINORightMarie. | September 5, 2014 at 1:42 pm

    Do you know the origin of the term witch hunt? It was religious fanatics ………….

Ironically, a lot of the post-verdict commentary here in the RVA goes along the lines of “hopefully this spurs the legislature to enact some strict rules about gifts for public office holders.” Apparently the mental disconnect is strong around here, no one seems to realize they are saying “now that he’s convicted, let’s make what he did illegal.”

Just listening to Mark Levin and Andy McCarthy, and neither of them can figure where these convictions came from.

Should be some interesting appellate stuff.

    Doesn’t matter what happens on appeal–his political career is over.

    My sympathy for politicians is limited, I think most of them are guilty of things that we hoi polloi could never get away with. Nevertheless, kangaroo courts are yet another sign of the US’s slide to third world.

    Those convictions came from the same place the convictions of Tom Delay and Scooter Libby did and the conviction of Rick Perry will.

Poor fella…had an opportunity to plea yet chose to throw his wife under the bus (which she apparently agreed to). I have no sympathy for him. Perhaps this will serve as a lesson to all office holders…nah…who am I kidding.

This is absolute madness. That’s all I will say.

JackRussellTerrierist | September 5, 2014 at 3:35 am

I trust no prosecution brought by the feds against any ‘pub or conservative.

IMO, this was just another ‘rat political headhunter’s witch hunt.

My gawd, what this country has sunk to. This is happening over and over, and the pubs just sit there like babes in the wilderness. Well, except for Scott Walker, and maybe Rick Perry.

Can anyone say Christiegate, Perrygate, McDonnellgate? But no Reidgate, Pelosigate,etc., etc. Pattern? Nah!

Connivin Caniff | September 5, 2014 at 8:28 am

Oh, succumb to the typical, egregious prosecutor-extortion offer of pleading to a lesser charge in order to avoid being corruptly convicted of draconian additional charges? At least these defendants courageously said “No” to that.

This was done to taint the Republican candidate Cuccinelli, who as AG had determined that nothing illegal had been done by McDonnell in this matter, and make sure that the current officeholder had an easier election victory. No concern for McDonnell’s appeal outcome, damage was done last year with the indictment and accompanying publicity.

    DINORightMarie in reply to boatsailor. | September 5, 2014 at 1:00 pm

    YES – it was ALL about knocking Cuccinelli out of the running for the governor’s race, as well as ending McDonnell’s rising, very promising political career.

    That is what the “D” really stands for: DESTRUCTION.