Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, recently convicted in federal court of peddling political influence, was sentenced this week to two years in federal prison, a term which was considerably lower than the six years prosecutors had originally sought, reports The Washington Post.
Explaining his decision on the two-year prison term, Judge James Spencer commented, “Unlike Pontius Pilate, I can’t wash my hands of it all. A meaningful sentence must be imposed.”
The sentence brings a bit of closure to the years-long saga which began only days after Gov. McDonnell, who running up to the 2008 presidential cycle had been discussed as a potential presidential candidate, had left office.
However, McDonnell and his defense team remain defiant, insisting on his innocence and have vowed an appeal. “Sometimes in a case like this, justice is a marathon. We will never give up in this case,” explained lead defense attorney Henry Asbill.
