McDonnell v. United States

The judgment of the Court of Appeals is vacated, and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

setting up a meeting, calling another public official, or hosting an event does not, standing alone, qualify as an “official act.”

There is no doubt that this case is distasteful; it may be worse than that. But our concern is not with tawdry tales of Ferraris, Rolexes, and ball gowns.

leaves ample room for prosecuting corruption

Conscientious public officials arrange meetings for constituents, contact other officials on their behalf, and include them in events all the time.

acceptance of $175,000 in loans, gifts, and other benefits from Virginia businessman Jonnie Williams, while Governor McDonnell was in office

Star Scientific hoped that Virginia’s public universities would perform research studies on anatabine, and Williams wanted Governor McDonnell’s assistance in obtaining those studies.

Roberts, C. J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court.

On November 3, 2009, petitioner Robert McDonnell was elected the 71st Governor of Virginia.

Federal prosecutors say they are dropping corruption charges against McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, in light of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in June that overturned their corruption convictions.

McDonnell apologized for using "poor judgment" and acknowledged receiving the loans and gifts. But he insisted that he did nothing illegal