Will U.S. Supreme Court acquit former Governor Bob McDonnell?

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Governor Bob McDonnell is going to Washington to seek justice. Specifically, he and his attorney are asking that he be cleared of the charges pursued by the federal government, noting that his conviction was … (see McDonnell formally asks Supreme Court to take up his case):

… the “first time in our history that a public official has been convicted of corruption despite never agreeing to put a thumb on the scales of any government decision.” They asserted, as they have throughout the case, that allowing McDonnell’s convictions to stand would make criminals out of virtually every politician and give prosecutors unchecked authority to decide which ones to target.

Meanwhile, Jonnie Williams still roams free, thanks to blanket immunity from the federal government in their witch hunt chasing after McDonnell who at that time was one of the most popular governors in the nation and extremely popular in Virginia, and whose name had been bantered about as a possible candidate in the 2016 presidential campaign.

Shaun Kenney  has thoughts on this at Bearing Drift (see RTD: McDonnell formally asks SCOTUS to hear appeal):

Certainly McDonnell’s 9-0 decision from the SCOTUS to remain free while on appeal is highly encouraging, if not exceptional.  The government’s effort to make honest services fraud so elastic as to involve anything down to buying a cup of coffee for an elected official is on its face absurd. Here’s hoping the U.S. Supreme Court agrees.

Ditto.

For links to press releases and additional information about or to donate to Governor McDonnell’s defense, check out the Restoration Fund website.