Virginia's Ex-Governor, Wife Guilty of Corruption

Virginia's Bob McDonnell once had high political aspirations for his post-gubernatorial life. Today, though, he became the first governor in the state's history to be convicted of a felony, reports the Richmond Times-Dispatch. McDonnell was convicted of 11 of 13 counts of corruption and his wife, Maureen, of nine of 13. Both face decades in prison, though the Washington Post says the actual sentences will likely be far less. Each sobbed "openly, but quietly" as the verdicts were read, reports the Richmond newspaper.

The McDonnells, now estranged, were charged with inappropriately accepting gifts and loans from businessman Jonnie Williams, who was looking to curry favor with the state for his dietary supplement company. The AP recounts the post-verdict scene: "The couple left the courtroom separately and remained apart. Bob McDonnell left first and walked into a witness waiting room; Maureen McDonnell came out later, hugging one of her daughters while weeping loudly. She went into a separate waiting room." Sentencing is Jan. 6. (More Virginia stories.)