A jury in September 2014 found McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, guilty of doing favors for wealthy vitamin executive Jonnie Williams in exchange for more than $165,000 in gifts and loans. Right now, Robert McDonnell’s last hope is the Supreme Court. There is no set timeline for Roberts or the court to make a decision.
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McDonnell was sentenced January 6 to two years in prison, the first Virginia governor to be indicted or convicted of a felony.
McDonnell’s lawyers weren’t immediately available for comment Thursday afternoon.
McDonnell asked to remain free during his ongoing appeals process and, in a motion filed Monday, claimed he poses no risk of flight or public endangerment.
The full appeals court last week refused to reconsider a three-judge panel’s unanimous ruling upholding Bob McDonnell’s convictions.
“It is not very likely that the court would consider his case”, he says, because the issues raised by McDonnell’s attorneys are “fairly routine”.
“I think there’s a chance, but it’s probably a longshot”, Tobias said Thursday.
The Associated Press reports McDonnell is due to serve two years in prison. The former governor said he is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Bureau of Prisons can give him a date to report by and could select a facility for him. The court typically takes about six weeks to act on the petitions it receives.
McDonnell was vetted by Mitt Romney as a running mate in 2012, and was once considered a potential 2016 presidential candidate, as an established center-right victor in a critical swing state.
McDonnell’s wife, Maureen, also was convicted.
Carl Tobias, a University of Richmond law professor who closely follows the Richmond-based appeals court, said he doubts the Supreme Court will allow McDonnell to remain free.
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Meanwhile former Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell is pursuing her case separately, with oral arguments scheduled for October 29 before an appeals court.
