In 2014 former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell was convicted on 11 counts of violating the law by a federal jury. He and his wife solicited and received loans, gifts and favors from a corporate executive who wanted help from the governor’s office for his company. McDonnell was sentenced to prison, but appealed and the U.S. Supreme Court allowed him to remain free while his case was heard.
Last week, a Supreme Court reported to be favorable to McDonnell’s lawyers’ arguments, heard his case.
The justices seemed to be confounded by the complexities of the judgements they were asked to make. But, the issues seem pretty clear. The justices seemed to be concerned that if McDonnell’s conviction is allowed to stand, political officials won’t be able to do their jobs in the manner in which they have become accustomed. That may well be the case. The real question, however, is whether we want them to be able to continue to do their jobs in the way they have become accustomed.
As someone once said: If you can’t take their money, fuck their women and still vote against them, you don’t deserve the job. But, is this the way we want to continue to run a country?