No new trial for ex-Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell

During the sometimes-sensational trial, it was revealed that McDonnell and his wife received $20,000 for a NY shopping spree, a monogrammed Rolodex worth more than $5,000 and use of a convertible Ferrari.

Federal prosecutors said on Thursday that they will not seek to retry former Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell, whose bribery conviction was overturned in June by the U.S. Supreme Court.

This announcement comes almost a week after the Washington Post reported the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia wanted to pursue a new trial against McDonnell.

Mr McDonnell, who had been sentenced to two years in prison but never served a day because he remained free during his appeal, claims he has been vindicated.

McDonnell, Virginia's governor between 2010 and 2014, was charged in a corruption probe almost three years ago over $135,000 worth of gifts he accepted from a political donor while in office. Supreme Court unanimously chose to overturn the governor's conviction for corruption, which left prosecutors with the decision on whether or not to try him again.

One of Bob McDonnell's lawyers, Hank Asbill of Jones Day, said in a statement: "I have always believed in my client's integrity and am very grateful he will now be able to move forward in his life".

McDonnell and his family went on vacations and received gifts and loans valued at $177,999 from the dietary supplement businessman, Johnnie Williams. "This man has paid the price, it is time to move on". A federal appeals court has declined to review the case, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015, of former Virginia Gov. Even in throwing out his convictions, the Supreme Court called his actions "tawdry".

"Setting up a meeting, calling another public official or hosting an event does not, standing alone, qualify as an 'official act", Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the Court's unanimous opinion. Prosecutors were forced to consider whether they could win the case at retrial, in light of the new standard.

The prosecutors' decision basically ends a four-year saga involving the former governor and ex-Liberty University professor. "It is instead with the broader legal implications of the Government's boundless interpretation of the federal bribery statute". It said in a statement the Justice Department had "sent a clear signal that it would not aggressively enforce corruption laws to hold public officials accountable when they abuse their office".

But this is less about McDonnell's pitiable sobs in the courtroom than it is about what less-connected Virginians may conclude is a justice system tilted toward the powerful.

The McDonnells arranged to connect Williams with state officials, let him throw a luncheon at the governor's mansion to help launch the product and shape the a guest list at a mansion reception meant for health-care leaders.

The decision not to retry McDonnell was welcomed by William A. Buruck, the attorney who represented Maureen McDonnell.