"Bob McDonnell, ex-governor of Virginia, sentenced to 2 years for corruption" by Jennifer Steinhauer, New York Times January 07, 2015
RICHMOND, Va. — Bob McDonnell, the former governor of Virginia who was convicted in September on corruption charges, was sentenced to 24 months in prison on Tuesday in one of the most spectacular falls of a statewide elected official in the history of the commonwealth.
McDonnell, 60, was given the sentence by Judge James R. Spencer of US District Court. He was found guilty of trading favors in return for $177,000 in loans, vacations, and gifts from a wealthy family friend who was trying to promote his vitamin supplement business.
McDonnell, a Republican who was once considered a possible contender for the White House, initially faced the prospect of up to 20 years in prison, but Spencer lowered that range to 6½ to 8 years during a hearing. McDonnell’s lawyers, citing what they described as years of good works and commitment to public service, had argued that a sentence of community service should suffice.
While McDonnell and his family looked shocked when he was convicted, they appeared impassive on Tuesday as sentence was passed. He was directed to turn himself in Feb. 9.
For hour upon hour before the sentence, the court heard accounts of McDonnell’s good deeds, and the judge said they were a mitigating factor. But, he said: “A price must be paid. It breaks my heart.”
McDonnell, who arrived in court with two of his daughters, looked on silently through the hours of testimony from friends and former associates. He was the last to address the court.
“I stand before you as a heartbroken and humbled man,” he said, as many supporters in the packed courtroom dabbed at their eyes with tissues.
McDonnell said his life in the governor’s mansion had become unbalanced. Now, he said, he will dedicate the rest of his life “newly to service.”
Nearly 450 people, including McDonnell’s relatives and their friends, had written letters seeking leniency for Spencer. Some spoke of the former governor’s generosity with the homeless. Others noted his devotion to the Roman Catholic Church.
Most striking were the letters from McDonnell’s family members. One daughter, Jeanine McDonnell Zubowsky, wrote to Spencer blaming her mother, Maureen McDonnell, who was also convicted of various charges and is to be sentenced in late February.
Maureen McDonnell “has always been concerned about getting discounts or freebies,” Zubowsky wrote.
“This was one of the main reasons she would not communicate with him,” she said. “She hid her coordination with people for free or discounted things or services, and she didn’t communicate with my dad because she knew he would not approve.”
Zubowsky offered another reason for leniency, noting that she is to give birth to his grandchild soon.
McDonnell’s defense centered on his wife’s relationship with a Virginia businessman, Jonnie R. Williams Sr., whose company, Star Scientific, was under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission for possible security violations when federal prosecutors granted Williams immunity from those charges in exchange for his cooperation with the McDonnell inquiry.
Throughout the trial, defense lawyers portrayed the McDonnells as incapable of conspiring with Williams because the two had such a bad marriage. Williams gave the couple $120,000 in low-interest loans, paid for much of the wedding of their daughter Cailin McDonnell Young, bought a Rolex for the governor, picked up bills for golf outings, and lent them his Ferrari. McDonnell’s lawyers portrayed Maureen McDonnell as a “nutbag” so taken with Williams that she had lost general control of her office and marriage.
Spencer, referring to Williams, said Maureen McDonnell “may have let the serpent into the mansion.” But the governor, he said, let Williams into his financial affairs.
Upon release, McDonnell will face two years of supervision. The prison term and the supervision are all well below the recommended sentencing guidelines, which could have put the former governor behind bars for up to 20 years, and less than the 78 months sought by the government.
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Also see: Virginia, Venezuela, and the VA
You know jwho controls Virginian politics, right?
Also see: Tensions boil over in Venezuela in president’s absence
One of the quietest U.S coup attempts that you rarely see in print.
NEXT DAY UPDATE:
"Virginia lawmaker to serve in jail as well as state legislature" by Alan Suderman and Larry O’Dell, Associated Press January 15, 2015
RICHMOND — A newly reelected Virginia lawmaker hitched a ride from the jailhouse to the State House to be sworn in, even as legislative leaders discussed how to throw him out.
Delegate Joseph D. Morrissey, who spends his nights in jail because of a sex scandal conviction, was back in his familiar legislative arena Wednesday but with a whole new set of circumstances: colleagues ignored him, he had to give up his old office, and his desk on the House floor was put in a far corner.
Morrissey didn’t appear bothered by his pariah status and instead brimmed with defiant confidence. He told reporters he wasn’t worried that both parties have repeatedly denounced him and said he doesn’t belong in the oldest continuously operating legislative body in the Western Hemisphere.
‘‘I’m confident in Joe Morrissey and I’m confident things will work out exactly the way they are supposed to,’’ Morrissey said.
Morrissey said he didn’t find out he had won reelection until after he had returned to jail Tuesday night. Morrissey was convicted last month of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Prosecutors accused him of having sex with a 17-year-old girl who worked for him. Morrissey and the teenager, now 18 and pregnant, have denied it.
Oooooooh. That looks bad.
How old is he?
Prosecutors said nude photos of the 17-year-old were found on Morrissey’s cellphone and allegedly shared with a friend.
And with the NSA guys, too.
Morrissey, 57, a bachelor who has fathered three children out of wedlock with three different women, has denied wrongdoing but entered a misdemeanor plea to avoid felony charges punishable by years in prison and automatic loss of his legislative position.
Oh, this guy is a real moral example. Must be something in the water down there.
You may be surprised to see me type it, but this is worse than the other thing that bugged me.
An attorney, Morrissey has a history of fistfights, contempt of court citations, and disbarment. He announced he was resigning his seat in December after his conviction, but promptly began running for his old seat as an independent after he said Democrats blocked him from the party nominating process.
Oh, he's a SCUM DEMOCRAT as well as lying hypocrite, huh?
Inside his new office, filled with boxes, he put his right hand in the air and pledged to uphold the constitutions of the United States and Virginia. Underneath his suit, he wore an ankle bracelet so law enforcement officials can keep tabs on him.
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I'm done with that scum.
FURTHER UPDATE:
"Former Va. first lady sent to prison"Associated Press February 21, 2015
RICHMOND — Former Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell was sentenced Friday to a year and a day in prison for her role alongside her husband in a bribery scheme that destroyed his political career.
US District Judge James Spencer sentenced McDonnell on eight public corruption counts. The couple was found guilty last fall of doing favors for a nutritional-supplements executive in exchange for $165,000 in gifts and loans.
Prosecutors had asked for an 18-month term . Her lawyers sought probation and 4,000 hours of community service.
Fighting back tears, McDonnell apologized to her family and Virginians, and said she takes full responsibility.
McDonnell can remain free on bond while she appeals the convictions, the judge said.
Her husband, former governor Bob McDonnell, received a two-year sentence last month on 11 counts, and is free on bond pending his appeal.
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I didn't realize she was so hot.
Sorry for not posting the photo but I don't want to leave any ambiguity.
