McDonnell Jury Reaches Verdict in Corruption Case

After 17 and a half hours of deliberations, the jury in the criminal trial of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, have found both of them guilty of public corruption.

Bob McDonnell, once touted as a possible presidential candidate, was found guilty of 11 corruption counts and was found not guilty of falsifying loan documents.

Maureen McDonnell has been found guilty of 9 corruption counts and one count of obstruction of justice. She was found not guilty of falsifying loan documents.

Bob and Maureen McDonnell could face decades in federal prison. The couple will remain free until sentencing on Jan. 6, 2015.

Read Politicos react to McDonnell’s Guilty Verdicts

Both McDonnells sobbed openly but quietly as the verdicts were read, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

The decision brings to a close five weeks of testimony including 67 witnesses, 48 for the prosecution and 19 for the defense. The McDonnells face a 14-count indictment alleging the couple lent the prestige of the governor’s office to Jonnie Williams, a wealthy Richmond-area businessman who lavished the couple with upwards of $177,000 in gifts, loans and luxury vacations.

US Attorney Dana Boente told the press afterwards that this was a “sad day for the Commonwealth,” according to ABC7’s Jeff Goldberg.

The McDonnells each faced 13 counts (14 counts jointly, including one count of lying on financial documents). Of those counts, 11 are corruption charges.

Bob McDonnell was charged with a second count of lying on financial documents for providing false information on a personal financial statement from Oct. 2012. Maureen McDonnell was charged with one count of obstruction of justice for returning a box of clothing purchased in March 2013 and claiming Mr. Williams had loaned them to her.

The counts were:

• Four counts of conspiracy to commit honest-services wire fraud
• Sevent counts of conspiracy to obtain property under color of official right
• One count for Bob McDonnell of making false statements on a personal financial statement to TowneBank
• One count of making false statements on a loan application to Pentagon Federal Credit Union
• One county for Maureen McDonnell for obstruction of an official proceeding

Read more:

• McDonnell Moved Out Days Before Trial Started
• Defense Lawyers Take Turn Attacking Maureen McDonnell
• 5 Strangest Things We’ve Learned at the McDonnell Trial
• McDonnell Indictments: Former Governor Vows to Fight ’False Accusations’
• Mitt Romney Donates Cash For Former Gov. Bob McDonnell’s Criminal Defense
• Former Gov. Bob McDonnell and Wife Plead Not Guilty