We are glad the sad, sordid saga of former Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, is finally over.

On Sept. 8, federal prosecutors announced they would not seek a second trial against the pair on corruption charges after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned their convictions in June.

While Mr. McDonnell and his wife are now free, they continue to be an embarrassment to themselves, their family and the people of Virginia.

We believe the jury convictions were correct, as were their sentences to prison. But we also believe in the rule of law, and so we now acquiesce to the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The question remains: How could an elected official and his spouse take more than $170,000 in gifts and loans from someone seeking to do business with the state and consider it OK?

We are heartened that Gov. Terry McAuliffe and a majority of the members of the Virginia General Assembly view that as problematic and moved to tighten Virginia’s laws regarding gifts and conflicts of interest.

In a nutshell, the new law, which took effect earlier this year, prohibits all state and local government officials and candidates for office and their immediate family members from soliciting or accepting gifts totaling $100 or more from lobbyists, lobbyists’ principals or someone seeking a contract from the government entity.

While officials acknowledge the law has some remaining kinks that need to be worked out, we believe it is a step in the right direction.

And we call on all candidates in this November’s races for state and local offices, including Richmond mayor, City Council and School Board, to familiarize themselves with the new law to ensure they don’t run afoul of it.

Let Mr. and Mrs. McDonnell’s experience be a lesson to all.