McDonnell and wife found guilty in corruption trial

[truebluefan]

A federal jury on Thursday found former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell guilty on 11 corruption counts, a stunning fall from grace for a onetime Republican rising star long thought to be harboring presidential ambitions.

McDonnell’s wife, Maureen, was convicted of nine counts related to the couple’s acceptance of gifts and loans from a Virginia businessman.

The McDonnells were indicted last January after the former governor turned down an opportunity to plead guilty to a single felony fraud count, sparing his wife of any charges. The couple’s legal team then made a huge gamble in basing its defense on the couple’s rocky marriage. Attorneys divulged salacious details about their nearly four-decade relationship and argued it was so troubled that the two couldn’t possibly have colluded with one another to accept over $165,000 in the form of gifts, trips and a loan from vitamin salesman Jonnie Williams.

But the jury – after just three days of deliberation – bought none of it.

Read more http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/verdict-reached-the-bob-mcdonnell-trial