Prosecutors said Hamilton is the first elected Virginia legislator to be convicted of selling his position for personal gain. In August 2016, he and former Democratic Congressmen Chaka Fattah of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania became two of the first people convicted of public corruption to try to take advantage of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in the case involving former Republican Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. Hamilton, representing himself, petitioned the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals for relief."Hamilton seeks relief after McDonnell ruling" Virginia Lawyers Weekly (August 17, 2016)
