Appeals court won't reconsider ex-Virginia governor's case

Recent Cases

A federal appeals court on Tuesday declined to review the case of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, letting his convictions on public corruption charges stand.

A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had unanimously upheld McDonnell's convictions in July. In its brief order on Tuesday, the full 15-member court said it won't reconsider that panel's ruling.

Eight judges voted against rehearing McDonnell's case, and seven others "deeming themselves disqualified, did not participate," the order said.

A jury in September found McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, guilty of doing favors for wealthy vitamin executive Jonnie Williams in exchange for more than $165,000 in gifts and loans.

The former Republican governor, once widely considered a possible running mate for presidential candidate Mitt Romney, was convicted of 11 counts and was sentenced to two years in prison. His wife was sentenced to one year and one day on eight counts. Both have been free while they pursue separate appeals.

It's unclear whether Bob McDonnell will now be required to report to prison. He can still appeal his convictions to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Related listings

  • Juvenile court decision due in Slender Man stabbing case

    Juvenile court decision due in Slender Man stabbing case

    Recent Cases 08/10/2015

    A pivotal decision is due this week in the case of two 13-year-old Wisconsin girls accused of stabbing a classmate to please online horror character Slender Man — keep them in adult court or move them into the juvenile system. The stakes are enormous...

  • Inmate challenge to death sentence goes back to trial court

    Inmate challenge to death sentence goes back to trial court

    Recent Cases 08/08/2015

    A state death row inmate is going back to a north Mississippi courtroom to again fight for a new trial. The Mississippi Supreme Court has ordered a Lowndes County judge to determine if the results of post-conviction DNA testing raise enough questions...

  • Brady lawsuit transferred from Minnesota to New York court

    Brady lawsuit transferred from Minnesota to New York court

    Recent Cases 08/03/2015

    Tom Brady's lawsuit against the NFL in which he wants his four-game suspension overturned will be heard in New York instead of Minnesota. Brady and the players' union filed their suit Wednesday in Minnesota. But the NFL already had filed papers Tuesd...

Business News