Changes

At the time McDonnell was elected Governor, he faced financial pressures because he had invested in rental properties at the peak of property values which began a sharp decline in 2008.  He then sought a series of personal loans. One loan came from a friend to whom he offered an appointment to a regulatory board.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lender was offered Va. post|first=Rosalind|last=Helderman|work=Washington Post|date=August 9, 2013|page=B1}}</ref> He also received loans and various gifts from Jonnie R. Williams, the CEO of a company which produces a dietary supplement.  These included a $6,500 Rolex watch, $15,000 for catering the wedding of McDonnell's daughter and a $10,000 engagement gift to McDonnell's other daughter.  Mrs. McDonnell purchased $15,000 worth of clothing on a New York city shopping spree paid for by Mr. Williams.  Mrs. McDonnell made public appearances on behalf of the product, and the Governor hosted an event at the Governor's Mansion to promote the product.  McDonnell claims that all of his actions were legal, and has returned the gifts and repaid the loans.<ref>{{cite news|title=McDonnell: All 'tangible' gifts returned to supporter|work=Washington Post|first=Rosalind|last=Helderman|date=August 14, 2013|page=B1}}</ref>  [[Ken Cuccinelli]], the current Republican candidate for Governor, asked McDonnell to call a special session to strengthen Virginia's ethic laws, but McDonnell declined.

At the time McDonnell was elected Governor, he faced financial pressures because he had invested in rental properties at the peak of property values which began a sharp decline in 2008.  He then sought a series of personal loans. One loan came from a friend to whom he offered an appointment to a regulatory board.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lender was offered Va. post|first=Rosalind|last=Helderman|work=Washington Post|date=August 9, 2013|page=B1}}</ref> He also received loans and various gifts from Jonnie R. Williams, the CEO of a company which produces a dietary supplement.  These included a $6,500 Rolex watch, $15,000 for catering the wedding of McDonnell's daughter and a $10,000 engagement gift to McDonnell's other daughter.  Mrs. McDonnell purchased $15,000 worth of clothing on a New York city shopping spree paid for by Mr. Williams.  Mrs. McDonnell made public appearances on behalf of the product, and the Governor hosted an event at the Governor's Mansion to promote the product.  McDonnell claims that all of his actions were legal, and has returned the gifts and repaid the loans.<ref>{{cite news|title=McDonnell: All 'tangible' gifts returned to supporter|work=Washington Post|first=Rosalind|last=Helderman|date=August 14, 2013|page=B1}}</ref>  [[Ken Cuccinelli]], the current Republican candidate for Governor, asked McDonnell to call a special session to strengthen Virginia's ethic laws, but McDonnell declined.

Eleven days after leaving office, McDonnell and his wife were indicted by a federal grand jury in conjunction with their relationship with Williams.<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Dell|first=Larry|title=Former Va. Gov. Bob McDonnell, Wife Indicted|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/va-gov-bob-mcdonnell-wife-indicted-21614637|date=January 21, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Helderman|first=Rosalind|title=Former Va. Gov. McDonnell and wife charged in gifts case|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/former-va-gov-mcdonnell-and-wife-charged-in-gifts-case/2014/01/21/1ed704d2-82cb-11e3-9dd4-e7278db80d86_story.html|date=January 21, 2014}}</ref> The trial of McDonnell and his wife began on July 28. 2014. The indictment alleged that McDonnell’s actions on behalf of Williams deprived the public of his honest services under the wire fraud statute.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/virginia-politics/trial-comes-down-to-bob-mcdonnell-s-conduct/article_c2993242-02ae-5139-9cf0-b92fe7a02bbe.html|title=

Eleven days after leaving office, McDonnell and his wife were indicted by a federal grand jury in conjunction with their relationship with Williams.<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Dell|first=Larry|title=Former Va. Gov. Bob McDonnell, Wife Indicted|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/va-gov-bob-mcdonnell-wife-indicted-21614637|date=January 21, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Helderman|first=Rosalind|title=Former Va. Gov. McDonnell and wife charged in gifts case|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/former-va-gov-mcdonnell-and-wife-charged-in-gifts-case/2014/01/21/1ed704d2-82cb-11e3-9dd4-e7278db80d86_story.html|date=January 21, 2014}}</ref> The trial of McDonnell and his wife began on July 28. 2014. The indictment alleged that McDonnell's actions on behalf of Williams deprived the public of his honest services under the wire fraud statute.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/virginia-politics/trial-comes-down-to-bob-mcdonnell-s-conduct/article_c2993242-02ae-5139-9cf0-b92fe7a02bbe.html|title=

Trial comes down to Bob McDonnell’s conduct|work=Richmond Times Dispatch|first=MICHAEL|last=MARTZ|date=July 26, 2014|accessdate=July 27, 2014}}</ref> During the trial McDonnell took the stand for five days to claim that his marriage was so troubled that he could not have conspired with his wife to accept gifts.  He also claimed that he did not perform any official acts to benefit Williams.  After a five-week trial, the jury convicted McDonnell on 11 counts and acquitted him on two, while Mrs. McDonnell was convicted of nine counts and acquitted on four.  McDonnell was sentenced to two years in prison on January 6, 2015,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/01/06/mcdonnell-hit-with-2-year-sentence|first=Steven |last=Nelson |date=Jan. 6, 2015|work=US News|accessdate=January 12, 2015}}</ref> and Mr. and Mrs. McDonnell can appeal their convictions after sentencing.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2014/09/04/politics/virginia-mcdonnell-trial/index.html?iref=storysearch|title=Former Virginia governor found guilty in influence-peddling case|first=Tom |last=Cohen|work=CNN|date=September 4, 2014|accessdate=September 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/sep/4/jury-reaches-verdict-corruption-case-against-forme/|title=Bob McDonnell’s fall from grace ends in felony convictions|work=Washington Times|date=September 4, 2014|first=David |last=Sherfinski |accessdate=September 5, 2014}}</ref>

Trial comes down to Bob McDonnell’s conduct|work=Richmond Times Dispatch|first=MICHAEL|last=MARTZ|date=July 26, 2014|accessdate=July 27, 2014}}</ref> During the trial McDonnell took the stand for five days to claim that his marriage was so troubled that he could not have conspired with his wife to accept gifts.  He also claimed that he did not perform any official acts to benefit Williams.  After a five-week trial, the jury convicted McDonnell on 11 counts and acquitted him on two, while Mrs. McDonnell was convicted of nine counts and acquitted on four.  McDonnell was sentenced to two years in prison on January 6, 2015,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/01/06/mcdonnell-hit-with-2-year-sentence|first=Steven |last=Nelson |date=Jan. 6, 2015|work=US News|accessdate=January 12, 2015}}</ref> and Mr. and Mrs. McDonnell can appeal their convictions after sentencing.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2014/09/04/politics/virginia-mcdonnell-trial/index.html?iref=storysearch|title=Former Virginia governor found guilty in influence-peddling case|first=Tom |last=Cohen|work=CNN|date=September 4, 2014|accessdate=September 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/sep/4/jury-reaches-verdict-corruption-case-against-forme/|title=Bob McDonnell’s fall from grace ends in felony convictions|work=Washington Times|date=September 4, 2014|first=David |last=Sherfinski |accessdate=September 5, 2014}}</ref>