Del David Albo (R-Fairfax) said he was surprised by the verdict.

“I’m really disappointed,” he said. “I think it’s a stunner because we know Bob McDonnell and we know he is the nicest guy and there’s not a dishonest bone in his body.”

Albo said the news hit him even harder because McDonnell is a personal friend.

“I’ve never had a friend of mine get busted for a crime,” he said. “Before this trial I never would have thought that setting up a meeting would be an official act for the purposes of this statute. So as I said before the laws need to more specific.”

As a trial lawyer analyzing the outcome, Albo said he believes McDonnell’s defense also was battling not just the specific charges against the former governor and his wife but the public’s low opinion of politicians in general. “Unfortunately, I don’t think average people have very high opinions of politicians,” Albo said.

Albo also said lawmakers must make the laws on gifts more clear.

“No one is condoning a $15,000 gift for a wedding,” Albo said. “[But] prior to today, I wouldn’t have thought it was illegal. In my opinion, we’re going to have to do some serious working to figure out what the law is.”

Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), who has known McDonnell since they served in Virginia’s House of Delegates, expressed sorrow at the guilty verdict.

“All of us have done those things we ought not to do,” said Griffith, who entered the legislature a year after McDonnell. “I never would have thought he would come close to doing something illegal. The Bob I know might have made mistakes, but it’s not a part of his core. He’s still a friend.”

Griffith cautioned that despite the verdict, the case was not over, owing to an expected appeal. Griffith, too, said the McDonnells’ conviction should cause state lawmakers to revisit the rules on accepting gifts.

“Virginia is going to have to take a look at it, to make sure the rules are clear.”