Governor rehires outside counsel in McDonnell case

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — An outside law firm representing former Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell’s staffers was back to work on their case two weeks after Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring ended its contract, newly released invoices show.

On Jan. 16, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring terminated a contract with Baker & McKenzie, a large law firm with offices in Washington, D.C., that Herring’s predecessor had hired to represent McDonnell’s staffers during a federal corruption probe last year. Terminating the contract was one of Herring’s first acts as the new Democratic attorney general. His office sent out a press release announcing the move.