The former governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen McDonnell, were indicted on federal corruption charges on January 6, 2014. The couple was found guilty of taking bribes and gifts from their colleague Johnnie Williams Sr., the former CEO of the company Star Scientific in exchange for Williams and his company to receive favors and special treatment from the state government.

McDonnell served as the governor for Virginia from early 2010 until early 2014. After winning the 2009 gubernatorial election he was barred from serving a second consecutive term as according to the Virginia state constitution, governors are not allowed to serve consecutive terms and was not able to run again. Shortly after leaving office, the former governor and former first lady were indicted on these charges.

According to The Washington Post, the McDonnell’s have been illegally accepting gifts, loans and vacations from Williams and in return they gave Williams and his company special treatment.

The Washington Post also stated that, Williams’ company Star Scientific was a former tobacco company that moved on to developing dietary supplements. According to investigating authorities, these bribes and gifts have been going on for at least two years which, according to the New York Times, lead to a federal investigation on Williams and Star Scientific.

The McDonnell’s were found guilty on September 4, 2014 on several charges including: honest service wiring fraud, obtaining property, under color of official right and extortion under color of official right.

In addition to these charges, Maureen McDonnell was found guilty of obstruction of a federal proceeding. Gov. McDonnell was then sentenced on January 6, 2015 to two years in prison with two years supervision after he is released.

According to the New York Times, the Federal Probation Office was hoping for McDonnell to receive a sentence of 10 to 12 years in prison and the prosecution was hoping for at least six and a half years in prison.

Maureen McDonnell was sentenced to one year and one day in prison on February 20, 2015. According to USA Today, the prosecutors were recommending that she receive 18 months in prison.

In late August of this year, the McDonnell’s lawyers appealed to the United States Supreme Court by asking them to allow former Gov. McDonnell to be released from jail while he appeals the case to the Supreme Court, claiming that McDonnell is a “victim of high profile-political prosecution.”

A few days later on August 31, 2015, the United States Supreme Court ordered a motion that former Gov. McDonnell be allowed to be free while he appeals his charges.

According to CNN, McDonnell was quoted as saying “I am grateful for the Supreme Court decision today and thank Almighty God for His protection and provision for me and my family.”

Although McDonnell is currently free, the decision to take up McDonnell’s case by a judge is still many weeks away according to CNN.