Former Gov. McDonnell Ordered to Report to Prison: Report

Despite plans to appeal his case to the highest court in the land, former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has been ordered to report to prison, according to a report by WTOP.

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals this morning has denied a motion that the former Republican governor remain free as he takes his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. The three-judge panel unanimously upheld McDonnell’s corruption convictions earlier, and the full appeals court declined to rehear the case.

For McDonnell, the “Motion to clarify order granting release pending appeal or, in the alternative, to stay the mandate pending resolution of a petition for certiorari” is DENIED,” the judges wrote, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

McDonnell and his wife Maureen were indicted Jan. 21, 2014 on federal corruption charges for receiving gifts and loans from a Virginia businessman. They were convicted by a federal jury Sept. 4, 2014.

McDonnell was sentenced Jan. 6 to two years in prison, the first Virginia governor to be indicted or convicted of a felony. He has been free on bond during the appeals process. On July 10, the appeals court upheld the convictions.

The former Republican governor, once widely considered a possible running mate for presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Meanwhile former Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell is pursuing her case separately, with oral arguments scheduled for Oct. 29 before an appeals court. She is arguing, her lawyers say, that “as a high school-educated spouse of a politician” that she didn’t knowingly break the law, The Washington Post reported.