McDonnell Jury Reaches Verdict

By Thompson Wall

After 17 and a half hours of deliberations, the jury in the public corruption trial of former Va. Governor Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, has reached a verdict.

Bob McDonnell has been found guilty of 11 corruption counts and was found not guilty of falsifying loan documents.

Maureen McDonnell has been found guilty of 8 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 Jan. 6, 2015.

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.

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.