Posted on 01/21/2014 12:54:12 PM PST by Theoria
Former Virginia governor Robert F. McDonnell and his wife Maureen were charged Tuesday with illegally accepting gifts, luxury vacations and large loans from a wealthy Richmond-area businessman who sought special treatment from state government.
Authorities alleged that McDonnell and his wife received gifts from executive Jonnie R. Williams again and again, lodging near constant requests for money, clothes, trips, golf accessories and private plane rides.
In exchange, authorities alleged that the McDonnells worked in concert to lend the prestige of the governorship to Williams’s struggling company, a small former cigarette manufacturer that now sells dietary supplements.
The two were charged with 14 felony counts, including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, obtaining property under color of their official office and conspiring to the do the same.
They were also charged with making false statements to a federal credit union.
McDonnell was also charged with making a false statement to a financial institution, and Maureen McDonnell was charged with obstructing the investigation.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Just to think this guy was at a minimum considered VP material back in 2012.
OY, why do smart people do these things?
Doesn’t he know, only Democrats can pull this cr*p?
A great disappointment during his four years.
That 2009 crop of Republicans at the front end of the tea party movement sure turned into a losing lot....McDonnell, Christie and Scott Brown. I’d throw Cuccinelli, too, even though he remains pretty solid. I thought he would skyrocket into the Governor’s race and he tripped up along the way, though. He may be damaged goods.
/**src on***/Can’t wait for the inevitable indictment against out new sleeze bag Clintonista governor/***src off***/.
The difference besides the party is McDonnell appears to have been an amateur in covering his tracks while McAuliffe is a all-pro at this game.
ping
If they’re guilty, they need to go to prison.
Uh-oh.
Everybody involved in this can KTA goodbye.
Cigarettes! Oh, my!
Yes, and this seems such a peanuts operation. McAullife could certainly tell him how to do it better and the Obama/EPA green loans for hundreds of millions to failing companies seems much more worth the risk. The pubbies are dumb even when they are crooks.
Ever wonder why?
Democrats just keep disqualifying candidates they don’t like. The media goes after them relentlessly.
McAuliffe did the same type of thing and he gets elected Governor.
McDonnell should change parties. Say the right things. Support gay marriage, extended unemployment. Talk about the racists within the Tea Party.
The Democrats will call off the dogs.
Who is going to investigate a Democrat? The media? yeah righhhhht.
Yes he was.
He had a lot of potential, but he apparently let personal greed keep him from achieving anything of substance.
I couldn’t care less what happens to this tax-raising fraud.
Related: Here’s a link for recent FDA warning letter to Jonnie’s firm, Star Scientific:
http://www.fda.gov/iceci/enforcementactions/warningletters/2013/ucm379639.htm
This is the email McDonnell sent out in response:
Friends,
Earlier today former Governor Bob McDonnell released a statement regarding the false indictment built upon discredited witnesses that was filed today in federal court.
Please take time to read below
The Restoration Fund
“My fellow Virginians, earlier today federal prosecutors notified my attorneys that they have filed criminal charges against me and my wife Maureen, alleging that we violated federal law by accepting gifts and loans from Jonnie Williams, the former CEO of Star Scientific. I deeply regret accepting legal gifts and loans from Mr. Williams, all of which have been repaid with interest, and I have apologized for my poor judgment for which I take full responsibility. However, I repeat emphatically that I did nothing illegal for Mr. Williams in exchange for what I believed was his personal generosity and friendship. I never promised - and Mr. Williams and his company never received - any government benefit of any kind from me or my Administration. We did not violate the law, and I will use every available resource and advocate I have for as long as it takes to fight these false allegations, and to prevail against this unjust overreach of the federal government.”
Robert F. McDonnell
Former Governor of Virginia
"Lend prestige"? What does that mean? According to the article, the guy's company received no state grants, contracts, economic incentives or state appointments. They could only get McDonnell on nonreporting gifts, and had to invent something vague about "lending prestige" for the quid pro quo to get him on corruption?
If that is the standard, didn't Obama "lend prestige" to Solyndra by visiting the factory and yucking it up with the executives? Didn't people connected to Solyndra make gifts to Obama's campaign? At least Solyndra got something a lot more real than "prestige", they got federal loan guarantees.
The Post sniffs: "McDonnell never explained why he and his wife had allowed such a man to become so closely entangled with their lives."
Suddenly, the Post is so high-minded! How about all the low-lifes "entangled with" Obama and the Clintons?
It's always a different standard for Republicans as opposed to Democrats.
So how is this different from what practically all other politicians do?
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