Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell: Prosecutors Dropping Corruption Case

Prosecutors won't attempt to retry the corruption case of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell that was overturned June 27 by the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced Thursday.

"Today the United States moved to dismiss the charges against Robert F. McDonnell and his wife Maureen McDonnell," U.S. Attorney Dana Boente said in the announcement.

"After carefully considering the Supreme Court’s recent decision and the principles of federal prosecution, we have made the decision not to pursue the case further," he said. "The department thanks the trial team and its investigative partners for their outstanding work on this case."

McDonnell was convicted on bribery charges for accepting money and gifts from a dietary supplement promoter in return for various actions to favor his business interests. The McDonnells were charged in early 2014 with illegally accepting more than $165,000 in gifts, luxury vacations and large loans from Jonnie R. Williams Sr., a wealthy Richmond-area businessman.

But the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the case. “Conscientious public officials arrange meetings for constituents, contact other officials on their behalf, and include them in events all the time,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in June. In a statement after the Supreme Court ruling in June, McDonnell expressed his "heartfelt gratitude" to the justices.

Once a national political rising star, McDonnell was found guilty on 11 corruption counts. The governor’s wife, Maureen McDonnell, was found guilty of nine corruption counts and one count of obstruction of justice.

The former governor was sentenced in 2015 to two years in prison for his actions. A federal appeals court upheld the convictions last summer.

Since McDonnell’s corruption scandal came to light, the General Assembly in Virginia has passed what Progress Virginia calls "toothless ethics reform bills riddled with loopholes." Research conducted by Progress Virginia Education Fund found 79 percent of gifts reported by legislators in 2014 would still be allowed under the ethics law passed in 2015, including 70 percent of gifts from lobbyists and principals. More recently, the commonwealth’s ethics council raised issues showing gifts prohibited from lobbyists could simply still be funneled through their PACs.

McDonnell, a Republican family man, a former rising star of the GOP, took his case in April to the Supreme Court, where justices heard his arguments. (You can listen to oral arguments from McDonnell v. United States here.)

PHOTO: Gov. Bob McDonnell, Capital News Service