WASHINGTON — Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell will be allowed to remain free while he appeals his corruption conviction to the U.S. Supreme Court.
McDonnell’s petition to delay his two-year prison sentence was granted Monday by the high court. However the decision does not guarantee that the court will ultimately hear his case.
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Richmond, ordered the former governor to begin serving his sentence after it declined to consider his case earlier this month.
A jury found McDonnell guilty of corruption last fall. He was accused of taking more than $170,000 in gifts and loans from Virginia businessman Jonnie Williams in exchange for promoting a product marketed by Williams’ company Star Scientific. Those gifts included trips and luxury clothing for former fist lady Maureen McDonnell, who is appealing her own corruption conviction.
