U.S. Supreme Court Rules Former Va. Gov. Bob McDonnell Can Remain Free During Appeal

Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, were convicted last September of doing favors for a wealthy businessman in exchange for more than $165,000 in gifts and loans.

Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell will remain free while appealing his corruption convictions to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court granted McDonnell's request to stay out of jail while justices decide whether to review his case. McDonnell argued he would suffer "irreparable harm'' if he served most or all of his two-year prison term and his 11 convictions were later overturned.

U.S. Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli Jr. argued McDonnell has not demonstrated that the Supreme Court is likely to take his case and, if it does, that he is likely to succeed.

McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, were convicted last September of doing favors for a wealthy businessman in exchange for more than $165,000 in gifts and loans. Maureen McDonnell was sentenced to one year and one day in prison, and a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in her case in late October.

An appeals court panel has already upheld Bob McDonnell's convictions, and the full 15-member court refused to reconsider. The appeals court also rejected the former governor's bid to remain free, so he asked the Supreme Court.

The case derailed the career of the rising Republican star, once viewed as a possible running mate to presidential candidate Mitt Romney in 2012.

McDonnell has maintained his innocence and argued that he was unfairly charged for providing routine political courtesies that all politicians dole out. He plans to ask the Supreme Court to consider whether federal bribery laws are too vague.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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