WASHINGTON — Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell will not have to immediately report to prison thanks to a temporary reprieve from the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Chief Justice John Roberts issued an order Monday allowing McDonnell to stay out of prison while the court considers his petition to remain free as he appeals his corruption conviction. Roberts also gave the U.S. government, which prosecuted McDonnell in Richmond, until Wednesday afternoon to submit its response.
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, also based in Richmond, rejected a similar request Thursday, effectively ordering McDonnell to prison. The order takes affect this week and McDonnell would likely be required to report to a yet undetermined federal penal institution in several weeks.
Both McDonnell and his wife Maureen have remained out of prison since the were sentenced last winter. A jury found them both guilty of public corruption in September. They were accused of accepting more than $170,000 in gifts and loans from Virginia businessman Jonnie Williams in exchange for giving Williams and his company Star Scientific access to government and university officials as well as promotional support for the company’s products.
Roberts, who is assigned to the Fourth Circuit, will consider McDonnell’s emergency request himself or refer it to the full Supreme Court.
