Corrupt, But Off the Hook

Former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell will not be recharged for corruption:

U.S. prosecutors on Thursday dropped corruption charges against former Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell and his wife, bringing to a close a case that had tarnished the once-rising star of the Republican Party.

"After carefully considering the Supreme Court's recent decision and the principles of federal prosecution, we have made the decision not to pursue the case further," the U.S. Justice Department said in a statement.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court threw out McDonnell's bribery convictions in a ruling that could make it tougher to prosecute politicians for corruption.

The eight justices, liberals and conservatives alike, overturned McDonnell's 2014 conviction, saying that his conduct fell short of a "official act" in exchange for a bribe as required for conviction under federal bribery law.

This for nearly $200K of gifts.

McDonnell sold his office, and sold his influence, but that is no longer a crime in the United States.

The old adage that the real scandal is not what is legal, but what is legal, applies here.