Former Virginia governor petitions Supreme Court for prison reprieve

Former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell has petitioned the Supreme Court to allow him to remain free while he appeals his corruption conviction in the high court. This petition was made hours after the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond rejected a similar plea and ordered McDonnell to report to prison next week. McDonnell was sentenced to two years in prison for accepting over $170,000 in gifts and loans from a Virginia businessman in exchange for the prestige of the governor’s office. Law professors have said it seems unlikely that the court will consider his plea. McDonnell’s defense revolves around the definition of an “official act”, which is something the lower courts are not entirely agreed upon.