10 On Your Side’s Andy Fox talked with former Governor Bob McDonnell on Monday following indictments being dropped in McDonnell’s corruption case.
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Prosecutors announced Thursday they will not pursue a second trial against McDonnell or his wife on corruption charges, a decision that comes more than two months after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned his conviction.
A jury convicted McDonnell and his wife in 2014 with accepting luxury gifts and loans from a vitamin executive.
Despite being cleared, McDonnell and his family face steep legal bills tied to the investigation, trial and appeals that lasted more than three years.
But the governor said he was prepared to go to prison up until the moment the Supreme Court granted him bond while the court considered the case.
Supporters created a legal defense fund in 2013 for McDonnell and have raised more than $575,000.
“There’s a lot of work to do to rebuild the relationship and hopefully have people remember the good work my team did as governor and not this latest case”, McDonnell said.
“But the first order of business is to reorder and reprioritize life in accordance with the important priorities in life: people first, and then secondly to be able to spend as much time as I can with my kids and grandkids”, McDonnell said. I set up meetings for donors and non-donors thousands of times. McDonnell did not report numerous gifts from Williams because he considered him a “personal friend” and gifts from personal friends aren’t required to be disclosed under state law. The U.S Supreme Court ruled in June that McDonnell didn’t necessarily violate bribery laws.
Mrs. McDonnell was sentenced to one year and one day in prison.
“We knew Bob McDonnell’s character”, Miyares said.
The court’s ruling provides comfort for future sticky-fingered politicians, who will find it easier to line their pockets while leading supplicants and suitors by the nose.
“It is time to move on”, McAuliffe said after the Supreme Court decision.
Moving forward, the former governor’s sister said she hoped her brother would fade into normal everyday life and continue working for nonprofit and corporate clients through their consulting firm.
Bob McDonnell was convicted on 11 of 13 corruption-related charges, while Maureen was convicted on eight of 13 charges.
He said Maureen McDonnell was so happy when she heard the news that she cried.
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“He is such a kind, humble, gracious man, that I truly believe that if he were to run today, he would win”, McLeskey said.
