Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Virginia
Related: About this forumEx-Governor Bob McDonnell on SCOTUS overturning his conviction
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ex-governor-bob-mcdonnell-on-scotus-overturning-his-conviction-2/I feel vindicated, the former Virginia governor tells 60 Minutes, despite Chief Justice John Roberts describing his public corruption case as tawdry tales
In the wake of last fall's elections, we've heard lots of talk of draining the swamp, of corruption and influence peddling, but amid all the heated discourse, you might have missed an important political story that is reverberating across the country and that we first reported in April.
"I listened to 19 guilty verdicts for my wife and me. And all I could do was sob." Bob McDonnell
It's the case of former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, who was an up-and-coming Republican star with a squeaky clean image and a record of promoting job growth. But his political career exploded in scandal worthy of a soap opera when he was convicted of public corruption and sentenced to two years in federal prison. He fought the charges all the way to the United States Supreme Court -- wracking up a hefty legal bill of $27 million. It turned out to be worth it. The Supreme Court reversed his conviction in a controversial and far-reaching ruling but not without a hitch. Chief Justice John Roberts described the case as "tawdry tales."
Tonight, looking no worse for wear, Bob McDonnell, talks about the case and the moment his world came crashing down when a Richmond jury returned a verdict against him.
Bob McDonnell: I listened to 19 guilty verdicts for my wife and me. And all I could do was sob.
Bill Whitaker: You broke down?
Bob McDonnell: Ah. That's all I could do, Bill. At that point, I was a convicted felon with a criminal record who was going to lose my law license, my right to vote, my passport, my reputation and other liberties. And my life was never going to quite be the same.
Bob McDonnell was one of the most popular Virginia governors in recent history. In 2012, he made the short list of Mitt Romney's possible running mates. But in a stunning fall from grace, in 2014, just 10 days after leaving office, McDonnell and his wife Maureen were indicted, then convicted by a jury of conspiracy and bribery. They had accepted $177,000 from a local businessman in personal loans and gifts presented as evidence in court: golf bags and clubs, luxury family vacations, the use of a Ferrari, $20,000 of designer clothes for Maureen and a Rolex watch for the governor. McDonnell appealed his guilty verdict up to the Federal Court of Appeals and lost twice. But then his conviction was reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court last fall.
Bob McDonnell: The worst at all was the-- the-- the belief that much of the public, and much of the nation looked at this, and think, "There's another corrupt politician." . . .
In the wake of last fall's elections, we've heard lots of talk of draining the swamp, of corruption and influence peddling, but amid all the heated discourse, you might have missed an important political story that is reverberating across the country and that we first reported in April.
"I listened to 19 guilty verdicts for my wife and me. And all I could do was sob." Bob McDonnell
It's the case of former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, who was an up-and-coming Republican star with a squeaky clean image and a record of promoting job growth. But his political career exploded in scandal worthy of a soap opera when he was convicted of public corruption and sentenced to two years in federal prison. He fought the charges all the way to the United States Supreme Court -- wracking up a hefty legal bill of $27 million. It turned out to be worth it. The Supreme Court reversed his conviction in a controversial and far-reaching ruling but not without a hitch. Chief Justice John Roberts described the case as "tawdry tales."
Tonight, looking no worse for wear, Bob McDonnell, talks about the case and the moment his world came crashing down when a Richmond jury returned a verdict against him.
Bob McDonnell: I listened to 19 guilty verdicts for my wife and me. And all I could do was sob.
Bill Whitaker: You broke down?
Bob McDonnell: Ah. That's all I could do, Bill. At that point, I was a convicted felon with a criminal record who was going to lose my law license, my right to vote, my passport, my reputation and other liberties. And my life was never going to quite be the same.
Bob McDonnell was one of the most popular Virginia governors in recent history. In 2012, he made the short list of Mitt Romney's possible running mates. But in a stunning fall from grace, in 2014, just 10 days after leaving office, McDonnell and his wife Maureen were indicted, then convicted by a jury of conspiracy and bribery. They had accepted $177,000 from a local businessman in personal loans and gifts presented as evidence in court: golf bags and clubs, luxury family vacations, the use of a Ferrari, $20,000 of designer clothes for Maureen and a Rolex watch for the governor. McDonnell appealed his guilty verdict up to the Federal Court of Appeals and lost twice. But then his conviction was reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court last fall.
Bob McDonnell: The worst at all was the-- the-- the belief that much of the public, and much of the nation looked at this, and think, "There's another corrupt politician." . . .
I don't know what makes me angrier. That he won't admit what a corrupt POS that he is or that this interview is his attempt to start to rehabilitate his image.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
3 replies, 1871 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (1)
ReplyReply to this post
3 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Ex-Governor Bob McDonnell on SCOTUS overturning his conviction (Original Post)
rogue emissary
Jul 2017
OP
50 Shades Of Blue
(10,043 posts)1. Go fuck yourself, Gov. Unnecessary Transvaginal Ultrasound!
Chasstev365
(5,191 posts)2. I don't approve if what Rod Blagojevich did, but
Rod got 14 years for hypothetically selling a Senate seat and this guys walks free? Oh, wait. He's a Republican; of course it's fair!
Va Lefty
(6,252 posts)3. OMG this prick is just like Jim Bakker
"God has forgiven me, why can't you?"