52
Severity Score

Robert Francis "Bob" McDonnell

71st Governor of Virginia (2010–2014); Member, Virginia House of Delegates (1992–2006); Attorney General of Virginia (2006–2010)

Convicted then Overturned
Bribery Conflict of Interest

Quick Summary

Bob McDonnell, the 71st Governor of Virginia, and his wife Maureen were convicted in September 2014 of public corruption for accepting approximately $175,000 in gifts and loans from Jonnie Williams Sr., the CEO of Star Scientific, a dietary supplement company. The gifts included a Rolex watch, designer clothing, a $15,000 shopping spree at Oscar de la Renta, use of a Ferrari, catering for their daughter's wedding, and $120,000 in loans. In exchange, the McDonnells promoted Williams's dietary supplement Anatabloc to state officials. In June 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously overturned McDonnell's conviction in McDonnell v. United States, ruling that the government's definition of "official act" was too broad. The case fundamentally reshaped federal public corruption law.

Timeline of Events

June 15, 1954
Robert Francis McDonnell born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
November 2009
Elected Governor of Virginia with 59% of the vote, seen as a rising star in the Republican Party and potential vice-presidential candidate.
2009–2012
Jonnie Williams Sr., CEO of Star Scientific (maker of the dietary supplement Anatabloc), begins providing gifts and loans to Bob and Maureen McDonnell. Gifts include: a $6,500 Rolex watch, $15,000 in Oscar de la Renta clothing for Maureen, $10,000 in catering for their daughter's wedding, and use of Williams's Ferrari.
2011–2012
Williams provides $120,000 in personal loans to the McDonnells to cover real estate investments and personal debts. He also provides a $50,000 loan to a corporation controlled by McDonnell.
2011–2013
In exchange, the McDonnells promote Anatabloc: arranging meetings between Williams and state health officials, hosting events at the Governor's Mansion featuring Anatabloc, encouraging Virginia state universities to conduct research on the product, and lending the prestige of the Governor's office to Williams's company.
March 2013
Media reports reveal the gifts from Williams. McDonnell initially fails to disclose them on required financial disclosure forms.
July 2013
McDonnell returns $120,000 in loans to Williams and apologizes for "embarrassment" to the state but denies any illegal conduct.
January 21, 2014
Federal grand jury indicts Bob and Maureen McDonnell on 14 counts of public corruption, including honest services fraud, extortion, conspiracy, and making false statements.
United States v. McDonnell, No. 3:14-CR-12 (E.D. Va. 2014)
September 4, 2014
Both McDonnells convicted by a jury. Bob convicted on 11 of 13 counts; Maureen on 9 of 13 counts.
January 6, 2015
Bob McDonnell sentenced to two years in federal prison. Maureen later sentenced to one year and one day.
July 10, 2015
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals upholds the conviction in a 2–1 decision.
June 27, 2016
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously (8–0) overturns McDonnell's conviction in McDonnell v. United States, ruling that arranging meetings, hosting events, and contacting other officials does not constitute an "official act" under federal bribery law.
McDonnell v. United States, 579 U.S. 550 (2016)
September 8, 2016
Federal prosecutors decline to retry McDonnell, effectively ending the case.

The Details

The Gifts

The gifts provided by Jonnie Williams to the McDonnells were extensive and often personal in nature. They included:

  • A $6,500 Rolex watch engraved "71st Governor of Virginia" for Bob McDonnell
  • $15,000 in Oscar de la Renta and other designer clothing for Maureen McDonnell
  • $10,000 in catering for their daughter's wedding reception at the Governor's Mansion
  • $15,000 towards the purchase of a gift for their daughter's wedding
  • Use of Williams's Ferrari for the weekend
  • $120,000 in personal loans to the McDonnells
  • $50,000 in loans to a corporation controlled by McDonnell
  • Golf equipment and outings

The Quid Pro Quo

In exchange, prosecutors alleged the McDonnells took several actions to benefit Williams and Star Scientific:

  • Arranging meetings between Williams and Virginia state health officials
  • Hosting events at the Governor's Mansion to promote Anatabloc
  • Contacting state university officials to encourage research studies on Anatabloc
  • Recommending that senior government officials meet with Williams
  • Providing a stamp of legitimacy by lending the prestige of the Governor's office

The Supreme Court Decision

Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the unanimous Court, held that the government's interpretation of "official act" was too broad. The Court defined an "official act" as a formal exercise of governmental power, such as a vote, a decision on a pending matter, or a ruling; not merely arranging a meeting, hosting an event, or making a phone call. Roberts wrote that under the government's theory, "officials might wonder whether they could respond to even the most commonplace requests for assistance" without facing prosecution.

The decision acknowledged that McDonnell's conduct was "tawdry" but held that it did not meet the legal definition of corruption under federal law. The ruling sent shock waves through public corruption law, making it significantly more difficult to prosecute elected officials for the kind of "soft" corruption that pervades American politics.

Broader Impact on Corruption Law The McDonnell decision directly led to the reversal or weakening of other corruption convictions, including the first conviction of New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Critics argue the ruling created a roadmap for corruption: officials can accept lavish gifts as long as they provide only "access" rather than formal "official acts" in return.

What Happened

McDonnell was convicted on September 4, 2014 on 11 of 13 counts and sentenced to two years in federal prison on January 6, 2015. The Fourth Circuit upheld the conviction 2–1, but the Supreme Court granted certiorari and on June 27, 2016, unanimously overturned the conviction.

Federal prosecutors declined to retry McDonnell on September 8, 2016, effectively ending the case. Maureen McDonnell's conviction was also vacated. Neither served prison time.

The case destroyed McDonnell's political career. Once considered a potential vice-presidential candidate, he became a cautionary tale about the blurred lines between political favors and criminal corruption. The McDonnell decision remains one of the most consequential public corruption rulings of the 21st century, criticized by anti-corruption advocates as a major setback in holding elected officials accountable.

Financial Impact

$175,000 (approximate total value of gifts and loans from Jonnie Williams)
~$230,000 (inflation-adjusted to 2026 dollars)

The gifts included $120,000 in personal loans, a $6,500 Rolex watch, $15,000 in designer clothing, $10,000 in wedding catering, and other items. The total documented value was approximately $175,000. Jonnie Williams received access to state officials and the prestige of the Governor's office to promote Anatabloc, though the product ultimately failed commercially and Star Scientific went out of business.

Connections

Jonnie R. Williams Sr.
CEO, Star Scientific
The businessman who provided the gifts and loans. Williams received immunity from prosecution in exchange for testifying as the government's star witness at trial.
Maureen McDonnell
First Lady of Virginia
Co-defendant. Prosecutors characterized her as the driving force behind the relationship with Williams. Convicted on 9 counts; conviction vacated along with her husband's.
Sheldon Silver
NY Assembly Speaker
Silver's first corruption conviction was overturned by the Second Circuit based directly on the Supreme Court's McDonnell decision, demonstrating the ruling's far-reaching impact on corruption law.

Sources

References & Citations

  • 1 COURT McDonnell v. United States, 579 U.S. 550 (2016). Unanimous Supreme Court decision overturning conviction.
  • 2 COURT United States v. McDonnell, No. 3:14-CR-12, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia (2014). Trial, conviction, and sentencing.
  • 3 COURT United States v. McDonnell, 792 F.3d 478 (4th Cir. 2015). Fourth Circuit affirming conviction (later reversed).
  • 4 NEWS Robert Barnes, "Supreme Court Overturns Corruption Conviction of Former Virginia Governor McDonnell," The Washington Post, June 27, 2016.
  • 5 NEWS Matt Zapotosky, "Former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell Will Not Be Retried on Corruption Charges," The Washington Post, September 8, 2016.
  • 6 NEWS Rosalind S. Helderman and Laura Vozzella, "McDonnell Convicted," The Washington Post, September 4, 2014.
  • 7 BOOK Zephyr Teachout, Corruption in America: From Benjamin Franklin's Snuff Box to Citizens United (Harvard University Press, 2014). Context on the legal history of corruption definitions.