Post by Logan on Mar 5, 2016 12:14:49 GMT -6
The U.S. Supreme Court has set arguments for Wednesday, April 27, in former Gov. Bob McDonnell’s appeal of his corruption convictions.
The high court will hear the case on the grounds of what constitutes “official acts” under federal corruption statutes. McDonnell, Virginia’s governor from 2010 to 2014, says he was convicted for actions that amounted to routine political courtesies.
McDonnell’s chance to win his appeal might have suffered a serious blow on Feb. 13 with the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. Of the eight remaining justices, four were nominated by Democrats and four by Republicans. If the justices deadlock, it will uphold the ruling of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld McDonnell’s convictions.
A Richmond jury convicted McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, in September 2014 based on their acceptance of more than $177,000 in gifts and loans from Jonnie Williams Sr., then CEO of Star Scientific, in exchange for promoting the company’s dietary supplement, Anatabloc.
Read more: www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/article_34984cfb-2269-5fa3-b7da-8552bc3f4987.html
The high court will hear the case on the grounds of what constitutes “official acts” under federal corruption statutes. McDonnell, Virginia’s governor from 2010 to 2014, says he was convicted for actions that amounted to routine political courtesies.
McDonnell’s chance to win his appeal might have suffered a serious blow on Feb. 13 with the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. Of the eight remaining justices, four were nominated by Democrats and four by Republicans. If the justices deadlock, it will uphold the ruling of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld McDonnell’s convictions.
A Richmond jury convicted McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, in September 2014 based on their acceptance of more than $177,000 in gifts and loans from Jonnie Williams Sr., then CEO of Star Scientific, in exchange for promoting the company’s dietary supplement, Anatabloc.
Read more: www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/article_34984cfb-2269-5fa3-b7da-8552bc3f4987.html