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McDonnell Verdict Is In: Both Guilty of Nearly All Charges

By William Peacock, Esq. on September 04, 2014 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

After days of deliberation, the verdict is in: Both Gov. Bob McDonnell and wife Maureen McDonnell have been found guilty of multiple charges.

What were the charges? Each faced 14 in total. The couple faced 13 charges in common, including wire fraud, conspiracy, and false statements, while each faced a single separate charge -- false statements for Bob McDonnell and obstruction for Maureen McDonnell, reports Washington's WAMU Radio.

Out of the 14 counts each, Bob was found guilty of 11 counts, while Maureen was convicted on nine counts.

Let's Recap the Trial

First, there was the hilarious indictment. It mentioned the time Johnnie gave Bob a lift to Sacramento, California, using his private jet. There were the dresses given to Maureen for a wedding and her anniversary. And the Rolex, from Maureen, to Bob, thanks to Johnnie. There were golf trips, a loaned Ferrari, a rented boat, and of course, tens of thousands of dollars in cash loans. And there were trades in stock in Johnnie's company by Maureen.

And this:

Allegedly.

What'd Johnnie get? A launch party for his product at the governor's mansion. Meetings with special people in special government offices. And a deal with the government in exchange for his testimony.

Then there was the legal maneuvering: The McDonnells' lawyers filed so much paperwork that the judge worried about the health of nearby forests. And there was a turned-down plea bargain that would've spared Maureen if Bob would agree to plead guilty to one felony charge.

And, of course, there was the trial strategy: It's all Maureen's fault, their marriage has long-since been on the rocks, and she had a crush on Johnnie. The cross-examination was pretty fun too: Bob pointed at Maureen, saying that she acted independently and that he provided nothing of value in return. Maureen's lawyers cross-examined Bob, hoping to show that he and Johnnie were BFFs separately from her alleged little crush.

The Verdict

Here's the full list, courtesy of WVIR-TV's Twitter feed:

  • Count 1: Conspiracy, Honest Services Wire Fraud -- Bob McDonnell, guilty; Maureen McDonnell, guilty.
  • Count 2: Honest Services Wire Fraud -- Bob McDonnell, guilty; Maureen McDonnell, guilty.
  • Count 3: Honest Services Wire Fraud -- Bob McDonnell, guilty; Maureen McDonnell, guilty.
  • Count 4: Honest Services Wire Fraud -- Bob McDonnell, guilty; Maureen McDonnell, NOT guilty.
  • Count 5: Conspiracy, Obtain Property/Official Right -- Bob McDonnell, guilty; Maureen McDonnell, guilty.
  • Count 6: Obtain Property/Official Right -- Bob McDonnell, guilty; Maureen McDonnell, guilty.
  • Count 7: Obtain Property/Official Right -- Bob McDonnell, guilty; Maureen McDonnell, guilty.
  • Count 8 Obtain Property/Official Right -- Bob McDonnell, guilty; Maureen McDonnell, guilty.
  • Count 9: Obtain Property/Official Right -- Bob McDonnell, guilty; Maureen McDonnell, NOT guilty.
  • Count 10: Obtain Property/Official Right -- Bob McDonnell,guilty; Maureen McDonnell, guilty.
  • Count 11: Obtain Property/Official Right -- Bob McDonnell, guilty; Maureen McDonnell, NOT guilty.
  • Count 12: False Statement -- Bob McDonnell, NOT guilty
  • Count 13: False Statement -- Bob McDonnell, NOT guilty; Maureen McDonnell, NOT guilty.
  • Count 14: Obstruction -- Maureen McDonnell, guilty.

Final score:

  • Government 11, Bob McDonnell 2.
  • Government 9, Maureen McDonnell 4.

The McDonnells are scheduled for sentencing on January 6, 2015.

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