[JURIST] The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit [official website] on Thursday denied a request by former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell [USA Today backgrounder] to remain out of prison while he appeals his corruption conviction to the US Supreme Court [official website]. With this ruling [AP report], McDonnell will most likely have to report to prison to begin serving his two-year sentence for corruption. However, hours after the ruling, McDonnell’s attorneys filed an emergency application to the Supreme Court asking to delay the lower court’s decision. The request was made to Chief Justice John Roberts, who may decide the matter himself or refer it to the rest of the court. McDonnell’s attorneys claim that the governor does not pose any flight risk nor threat to public safety and that there would be no irreparable harm caused by him remaining out of prison. There is no timetable for the court to decide the case.

In 2014 McDonnell and his wife Maureen were accused [USA Today report] of accepting more than $165,000 in gifts and loans from Jonnie Williams, the CEO of Star Scientific Inc., in exchange for favors for and promotions of the company. During the trial [WP timeline] damning evidence was produced showing how the McDonnells frequently promoted the dietary supplements of Star Scientific. In September the McDonnells were found guilty of the 11 counts of corruption, and in January Bob McDonnell was sentenced to two years and Maureen received a sentence of one year and one day. Last week 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.