Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell plans to bring his corruption case to the Supreme Court after the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals turned down his request for a rehearing of his 11 convictions.
The three-judge panel of the appeals court had unanimously upheld McDonnell’s convictions on July 10. Eight of the court’s 15 judges were necessary for the former Republican governor to win a rehearing from the full court, but in a brief order this morning, the court turned down his appeal.
Eight judges voted against rehearing McDonnell’s case, and seven others “deeming themselves disqualified, did not participate,” according to the order.
In September, a jury found that both McDonnell and his wife Maureen were guilty of providing political favors for vitamin executive Jonnie Williams in exchange for over $165,000 in lavish gifts and loans.
U.S. District Judge James R. Spencer’s ruling carried a two-year prison sentence but the court allowed McDonnell to remain free as it considered his appeal.
McDonell’s lawyer Henry Asbill told the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Tuesday that McDonnell’s bond status is not clear after today’s ruling. Maureen McDonnell was convicted of nine counts of corruption, and her case is expected to be heard by the Appeals Court in October.
