Virginia – McDonnell corruption conviction overturned by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court overturned the corruption conviction of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell in a unanimous decision. The court agreed with McDonnell’s argument that the instructions given to the federal jury in Richmond were too vague. With this decision, the case will go back to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals to determine whether enough evidence exists to convict McDonnell. If so, the case would be retried. “There is no doubt that this case is distasteful; it may be worse than that. But our concern is not with tawdry tales of Ferraris, Rolexes, and ball gowns. It is instead with the broader legal implications of the Government’s boundless interpretation of the federal bribery statute. A more limited interpretation of the term ‘official act’ leaves ample room for prosecuting corruption, while comporting with the text of the statute and the precedent of this Court,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote.