$10M To Save Reputation, Avoid Jail

Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s corruption charge was recently overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, but that hardly means the politician has gotten off scot-free: McDonnell now owes his appellate lawyers more than $10 million. McDonnell’s team consisted of Hank Asbill and Noel J. Francisco of Jones Day, as well as John L. Brownlee of Holland & Knight. Along with his wife, McDonnell was convicted of corruption in 2014 for accepting more than $177,000 in gifts and loans from a businessman in the state. In June the Supreme Court found that the judge in the case had given too broad a definition of what constitutes an “official act” under the federal bribery law. Mitt Romney is among the prominent donors to McDonnell’s Restoration Fund, which supporters have created to help stem legal costs.