Followings the news that the U.S. Attorney’s Office recommends retrying former Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell for corruption, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) Executive Director Noah Bookbinder released the following statement:

“We applaud the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its commitment to fighting government corruption by recommending retrying Gov. McDonnell. We hope that the Justice Department will take up the mantle and pursue a new trial, following the path it has recently set with the indictments of Sen. Menendez and Reps. Fattah and Brown, establishing an aggressive pattern of enforcing corruption laws and holding public officials accountable when they abuse their office. Gov. McDonnell accepted nearly $200,000 in cash and luxury goods in exchange for using his office to help a business. No one should be above the law, no matter how powerful they are or how high they rank in the government. An unfortunate Supreme Court decision may have reversed his conviction, but it should not give corrupt officials a free pass.”