A federal appeals panel has upheld the corruption convictions of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, who was sentenced to two years in prison earlier this year for accepting more than $170,000 in gifts and loans in exchange for helping promote the interests of a wealthy businessman.
“Appellant received a fair trial and was duly convicted by a jury of his fellow Virginians,” Judge Stephanie D. Thacker of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wrote in an opinion published Friday. “We have no cause to undo what has been done.”
Judge Diana Gribbon Motz and Judge Robert B. King joined the opinion.
Mr. McDonnell said in a statement he is “greatly disappointed” with the decision and that he’s never violated his oath of office or disregarded the law in nearly 40 years of public service.
“I remain highly confident in the justice system and the grace of our God that full vindication will come in time,” he said. “I remain very blessed to have the unwavering support of my family and great friends which continues to sustain me.”
Mr. McDonnell’s legal team said in a statement Friday that they are disappointed in the court’s decision, that they will review the opinion carefully and continue to pursue “all legal options,” and that “the fight for justice for our client is far from over.”
Dana Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, issued a statement thanking the appellate team for their efforts on the case, as well as special agents with the FBI’s Richmond Division, the Virginia State Police and the IRS’s Criminal Investigation division.
“We are pleased with today’s ruling affirming the conviction of former Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell,” Mr. Boente said.
Mr. McDonnell was convicted in September on 11 counts after being accused of accepting more than $170,000 in gifts and loans from businessman Jonnie R. Williams Sr. in exchange for helping promote Mr. Williams’ business interests.
In January, Mr. McDonnell was sentenced to two years of imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release, and his wife, former first lady Maureen McDonnell, was sentenced in February to one year and one day for her role in the scheme.
Mr. McDonnell’s lawyers had challenged the jury instructions and evidence presented against him, and said that Mrs. McDonnell’s trial should have been separated from his own, among other arguments.
But the three-judge panel rejected arguments that the court had defined bribery too expansively and gave the jury a misleading instruction on the question of what constituted an “official act” performed by Mr. McDonnell as governor.
“The temporal relationship between the ’quids’ and ’quos’ — the gifts, payments, loans, and favors and the official acts — constitute compelling evidence of corrupt intent,” Judge Thacker wrote.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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