Photo credit: New York Times
In a unanimous ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Bob McDonnell’s bribery conviction. The former Governor had been found guilty in 2014 of accepting more than $165,000 in gifts and loans from Richmond businessman Jonnie Williams in exchange for using his office to promote a dietary supplement.
Prosecutors had charged that McDonnell had committed at least five “official acts” on behalf of Williams, including hosting and attending events at the Governor’s Mansion and arranging meetings for Williams with state employees. He was convicted in a Richmond jury trial, and the conviction was upheld in appeals court.
As Justice John Roberts said in his opinion, the case revolves around the proper interpretation of the phrase “official act.”
We reject the Government’s reading … and adopt a more bounded interpretation of “official act.” Under that interpretation, setting up a meeting, calling another public official, or hosting an event does not, standing alone, qualify as an “official act.”
“There is no doubt that this case is distasteful; it may be worse than that,” wrote Roberts. “But our concern is not with tawdry tales of Ferraris, Rolexes and ball gowns. it is instead with the broader legal implications of the government’s boundless interpretation of the federal bribery statute. A more limited interpretation of the term ‘official act’ leaves ample room for prosecuting corruption, while comporting with the text of the statute and the precedent of this court.”
I’m no legal scholar, but Roberts’ thinking is precisely why I found McDonnell’s conviction so incomprehensible in the first place. The governor opened doors for Williams, but he never strong-armed anyone or intervened in any way to get Williams the state funds he craved.
The trial revealed unseemly behavior and poor judgment by McDonnell that, in my mind, disqualified him from public office — and the Supreme Court ruling does not change that. But McDonnell’s deeds did not rise to the level of a criminal offense. I’m glad to see McDonnell cleared of criminal charges. He has spent two years in purgatory. At last the man can go about rebuilding his life.
— JAB
