On Wednesday the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in former Governor Bob McDonnell’s appeal of his conviction of accepting gifts in exchange for favors while in office. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on McDonnell’s case in June. He will learn then if he will spend two years in prison.
In the meantime, McDonnell has stayed busy with a new business, charity work, and attending church services with his wife. Jeff McWaters, a former state Senator, hosts a prayer group several times a month which the former Governor attends. He says McDonnell is optimistic about his future,
“This is a guy who’s just trying to get back to a normal life,” McWaters said. “His faith is so strong he’s really feeling like he will be vindicated. … He confidently anticipates that the Supreme Court will look at that mountain of legal thought and will vindicate him.
“However, I think he’s a realist. Bob knows that there’s a chance that that might not happen, and I think he accepts that.”
“I’ve even heard him joke around and say, ‘Hey, I got through Army boot camp. I’ll get through this,’ ” McWaters said.
“He’s very aware that people are watching how he’s handling this.”
After McDonnell’s conviction he went to work in a friend’s company in Virginia Beach, Bay Mechanical Inc. While he still works for the company, in 2015 he opened his own consulting business with his sister Maureen. The McDonnell group does small business and corporate consulting. Each week he reaches out to someone who is suffering in an effort to help others.
During the trial McDonnell and his wife Maureen were separated but it appears they have reconciled. The couple has been seen out together since June. Maureen was also sentence to prison, for a year and day for her part in the Jonnie Williams saga of gifts and money for influence. Her case is also on appeal.
More on how McDonnell is spending his time here.
