Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has been found guilty on 11 of 14 corruption counts. His wife Maureen McDonnell has been found guilty on 8 corruption counts and obstruction of justice, a Richmond jury ruled today. The pair was not convicted on bank fraud charges.
Reporters in the courtroom described the family as sobbing and hysterical as the guilty charges were read. This was the third day of deliberations for the jury after a five-week trial.
This is a stunning fall from grace for the man who was on the short list to be a possible running mate for GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney in 2012. He was charged with exchanging favors with a wealthy Virginia businessman in exchange for about $177,000 worth of lavish gifts, vacations, and loans.
The maximum sentence for each corruption charge is twenty years. During the next phase of sentencing, family members and friends will likely contact the judge directly, traditionally by mail, to plead for leniency for the former first couple of Virginia. It’s likely at that point that the McDonnell will appeal their conviction in an appeals court.
The current governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe released a statement on the historic verdict saying, “I am deeply saddened by the events of the trial that ended in today’s verdict, and the impact it has had on our Commonwealth’s reputation for honesty and clean government.
“Dorothy and I will continue to pray for the McDonnell family and for everyone who was affected by this trial,” McAuliffe wrote.
—————————————————————————————————————-
On Count One, both McDonnells were convicted of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.
On counts two and three, both McDonnells were convicted of honest-services wire fraud.
On count four, Bob McDonnell was convicted of honest-services wire fraud, but Maureen McDonnell was found not guilty.
On count five, both McDonnells were convicted of conspiracy to obtain property under color of official right.
On counts six through eight, both McDonnells were convicted of obtaining property under color of official right.
On count nine, Bob McDonnell was convicted of obtaining property under color of official right, but Maureen McDonnell was found not guilty.
On count 10, both McDonnells were convicted of obtaining property under color of official right.
On count 11, Bob McDonnell was convicted of obtaining property under color of official right, but Maureen McDonnell was found not guilty.
On count 12, Bob McDonnell was found not guilty of making a false statement on a financial document.
On count 13 both McDonnells were found not guilty of making a false statement on a financial document.
On count 14, Maureen McDonnell was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding.
Source: ABCNews.com, Associated Press
