Post by Logan on Jan 17, 2016 2:04:40 GMT -6
Justices to Hear Appeal by Bob McDonnell, Ex-Governor of Virginia
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear an appeal from Bob McDonnell, the former governor of Virginia who was convicted of public corruption and faces two years in prison in a case that offers an important test of what kinds of official conduct amount to forbidden corruption.
The Supreme Court took no action in a second case, United States v. Texas, No. 15-674, in which the Obama administration asked the court to revive a sweeping immigration program blocked by lower courts. The Supreme Court is most likely to announce next week whether it will hear the case.
Mr. McDonnell, a Republican, was prosecuted on charges that he had used his office to help a businessman, Jonnie R. Williams Sr., who had showered the governor and his wife with luxury products, loans and vacations. The gifts themselves were legal, and the question in the case was whether they were part of a corrupt bargain in which Mr. McDonnell reciprocated by using the power of his office to help Mr. Williams.
Mr. McDonnell arranged meetings for and attended events with his benefactor. But Mr. Williams, whose company made a diet supplement, met with no real success in obtaining support for his product from the state. A jury found that Mr. McDonnell’s actions amounted to corruption, and a federal appeals court upheld the conviction.
Continue reading at www.nytimes.com/2016/01/16/us/politics/bob-mcdonnell-supreme-court-appeal.html .
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear an appeal from Bob McDonnell, the former governor of Virginia who was convicted of public corruption and faces two years in prison in a case that offers an important test of what kinds of official conduct amount to forbidden corruption.
The Supreme Court took no action in a second case, United States v. Texas, No. 15-674, in which the Obama administration asked the court to revive a sweeping immigration program blocked by lower courts. The Supreme Court is most likely to announce next week whether it will hear the case.
Mr. McDonnell, a Republican, was prosecuted on charges that he had used his office to help a businessman, Jonnie R. Williams Sr., who had showered the governor and his wife with luxury products, loans and vacations. The gifts themselves were legal, and the question in the case was whether they were part of a corrupt bargain in which Mr. McDonnell reciprocated by using the power of his office to help Mr. Williams.
Mr. McDonnell arranged meetings for and attended events with his benefactor. But Mr. Williams, whose company made a diet supplement, met with no real success in obtaining support for his product from the state. A jury found that Mr. McDonnell’s actions amounted to corruption, and a federal appeals court upheld the conviction.
Continue reading at www.nytimes.com/2016/01/16/us/politics/bob-mcdonnell-supreme-court-appeal.html .