McDonnell to stay out of jail during Supreme Court appeal

Former Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell asked a U.S. appeals court on Thursday to remain out of prison pending appeal of his corruption convictions to the Supreme Court. Their appeals have proceeded separately, and oral arguments are tentatively scheduled in Maureen McDonnell’s case for October. A three-judge panel of the Richmond-based appeals court unanimously upheld McDonnell’s convictions in July.

The former Republican governor, once widely considered a possible running mate to former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, was convicted last year of giving favors to former Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams in exchange for more than $165,000 in gifts and loans. This motion comes just two days after a 15-member court said that they will not reconsider the ruling against McDonnell.

[Federal appeals court turns down former Va. governor McDonnell, again].

GOODMAN: “It is not at all unusual, in this particular case, since he has had two versions of the lower courts: the trial court and the court of appeals, rule against him, it is less and less likely that he will be successful in the supreme court, but there is still a chance”. His wife was sentenced to one year and one day.

McDonnell’s lawyers wrote that federal prosecutors intended to oppose their request, though they had not filed a motion as of Thursday morning. Bob McDonnell also arranged meetings with administration officials for Williams, who wanted not only the university research but also inclusion of Anatabloc in the state’s employee health plan.

Shortly after a federal appeals court said on Tuesday that it wouldn’t revisit the case, McDonnell attorney Henry Asbill declined to say whether his client will have to report to prison. He can still appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.