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'''Robert F. "Bob" McDonnell''' (born June 15, 1954) was the 71st Governor of [[Virginia]], having won the 2009 election by a 59%-41% landslide. McDonnell's Democratic opponent was state Senator [[Creigh Deeds]], whom he defeated in 2005 for attorney general. He had consistently led Deeds in the polls by wide margins.<ref>http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=9db323a1-0c9c-4a39-887c-c504bc80fb06</ref><ref>http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2009/virginia/toplines/toplines_virginia_governor_election_september_29_2009/</ref><ref>http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=10fe2317-36a6-4429-86ce-1d154fb33c58%26c=18/</ref><ref>http://www.wvec.com/news/topstories/stories/wvec_local_101909_gov._selection_poll.231bdeef9.html</ref> Previously McDonnell served as a [[Lieutenant Colonel]] in the [[United States Army]], and a U.S. prosecutor. He was state [[Attorney General]] from 2006-2009, before resigning to focus full-time on his gubernatorial campaign.

'''Robert F. "Bob" McDonnell''' (born June 15, 1954) was the 71st Governor of [[Virginia]], having won the 2009 election by a 59%-41% landslide. McDonnell's Democratic opponent was state Senator [[Creigh Deeds]], whom he defeated in 2005 for attorney general. He had consistently led Deeds in the polls by wide margins.<ref>http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=9db323a1-0c9c-4a39-887c-c504bc80fb06</ref><ref>http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2009/virginia/toplines/toplines_virginia_governor_election_september_29_2009/</ref><ref>http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=10fe2317-36a6-4429-86ce-1d154fb33c58%26c=18/</ref><ref>http://www.wvec.com/news/topstories/stories/wvec_local_101909_gov._selection_poll.231bdeef9.html</ref> Previously McDonnell served as a [[Lieutenant Colonel]] in the [[United States Army]], and a U.S. prosecutor. He was state [[Attorney General]] from 2006-2009, before resigning to focus full-time on his gubernatorial campaign.

==Career==

==Career==

Born in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]] and raised in northern Virginia, he attended the [[University of Notre Dame]] on an [[ROTC]] scholarship. During his twenty-one years in the Army, McDonnell spent four years running a medical clinic in Germany. After marrying and raising a family, he graduated from Regent University in Virginia Beach in 1989 with a law degree and became a prosecutor in the Virginia Beach Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. McDonnell was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1992, defeating a twenty-year incumbent. He would go on to be reelected seven times, and would rise to the position of Assistant Majority Leader and Chairman of the House Courts of Justice Committee. During his tenure he passed parental notification law for abortions, drunk driving laws and legislation to abolish the death tax.  

Born in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]] and raised in northern Virginia, he attended the [[University of Notre Dame]] on an [[ROTC]] scholarship. During his twenty-one years in the Army, McDonnell spent four years running a medical clinic in Germany. After marrying and raising a family, he graduated from Regent University in Virginia Beach in 1989 with a law degree and became a prosecutor in the Virginia Beach Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. McDonnell was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1992, defeating a twenty-year incumbent. He would go on to be reelected seven times, and would rise to the position of Assistant Majority Leader and Chairman of the House Courts of Justice Committee. During his tenure he passed parental notification law for abortions, drunk driving laws and legislation to abolish the death tax.  

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> on charges that were ultimately completely reversed by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]].

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>

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> All the charges were completely reversed by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] in 2016.

==References==

==References==