Originally published on January 8, 2015, at NationofChange.org
Convicted on public corruption charges, former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has been sentenced to 2 years in prison for soliciting and accepting bribes while in office. His wife, Maureen McDonnell, has been convicted on similar charges for obtaining payments, loans, and gifts in exchange for political favors. Instead of condemning McDonnell for abusing his power, many politicians have reached out in support of his behavior.
Former Attorney General of Virginia, Bob McDonnell became Governor of Virginia on January 16, 2010. After delivering the 2010 Republican response to the State of the Union Address, he became chairman of the Republican Governors Association in 2011. McDonnell was even considered a possible running mate for GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney in 2012.
Ten days after vacating the office of Governor of Virginia, McDonnell and his wife Maureen were indicted on federal corruption charges on January 21, 2014. Between April 2011 and March 2013, the McDonnells had accepted over $170,000 in direct payments from former Star Scientific Inc. CEO Jonnie Williams, Sr.
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