[JURIST] Prosecutors on Thursday dropped corruption charges [press release] against the former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell. The US Supreme Court had vacated his conviction [JURIST report] in June. Based on a “careful consideration” of the Supreme Court decision and “the principles of federal prosecution,” the US Department of Justice felt it was best to drop the charges.

In 2014 McDonnell and his wife Maureen were accused of accepting more than $165,000 in gifts and loans from Jonnie Williams, the CEO of Star Scientific, in exchange for favors for and promotions of the company. The McDonnells were found guilty of the 11 counts of corruption, and Bob McDonnell was sentenced to two years and Maureen received a sentence of one year and one day. An attorney for Bob McDonnell said he would appeal [JURIST report] his public corruption convictions to the Supreme Court after the Fourth Circuit refused to reconsider the case. The Supreme Court granted certiorari in January and heard oral arguments [JURIST reports] in April.