UPDATE: McDonnell Says 'I Am Innocent of These Charges'

UPDATE 5:25 p.m.: Gov. Bob McDonnell has issued a statement after today’s court ruling:

“I am very disappointed in today’s court ruling. I am innocent of these charges. In my 38 years of public service to my country and the Commonwealth, I have never misused my office nor ever promised anyone anything in exchange for money. I will continue my journey for justice to the highest court in the United States. I am grateful to my wonderful family, dear friends and legal team for their unwavering support and belief in me, and for the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ for sustaining me. I look forward to the day when vindication is obtained and my family’s good name is fully restored.”

-----------------

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has turned down former Gov. Bob McDonnell’s request for a rehearing on his 11 corruption convictions, and his lawyer now says he will appeal his case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

A three-judge panel of the Richmond-based appeals court, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports, upheld the convictions on July 10, holding in part that McDonnell: “received a fair trial and was duly convicted by a jury of his fellow Virginians.”

“No judge voted in favor of rehearing,” said the court. Eight voted against rehearing and seven “deemed themselves disqualified and did not participate,” said the court.

U.S. District Judge James R. Spencer sentenced the former governor to two years in prison, but he remains free pending appeals.

Meanwhile McDonnell’s lawyers have requested an en banc hearing.

Henry W. Asbill, one of McDonnell’s lawyers, told the Times-Dispatch he expects McDonnell will not have to report to prison pending a decision on the request.

McDonnell and his wife were convicted after a six-week jury trial in September of corruption charges of accepting gifts and loans from Star Scientific CEO Jonnie R. Williams Sr. McDonnell was sentenced in January to two years in prison. His wife Maureen McDonnell was sentenced to a year and a day in prison.

McDonnell has not served any prison time while his case made its way through the appeals process. The court ruled in January that McDonnell was not a flight risk or danger to the community and the appeal is “not for the purpose of delay and raises a substantive question of law or fact.”

Photo by Michael Melkonian, CNS