Posted on 01/22/2014 4:48:06 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
If the prosecutors' case in United States v. Robert F. McDonnell and Maureen G. McDonnell is correct, the corrupt acts of the 71st governor of Virginia and his wife had their beginning even before Bob McDonnell took the oath of office. Virginia's new First Couple allegedly hoped to start cashing in before they officially became the First Couple.
News reports give readers the basic outline of the prosecution, but one has to read the indictment itself -- it's just 43 pages -- to grasp the full extent of the McDonnells' alleged corruption. The gist of the case is that the governor and his wife, in debt and constantly worried about money, cultivated a "friendship" with Virginia pharmaceutical entrepreneur Jonnie Williams and almost immediately began asking him for money and gifts, at the same time holding out hope that the governor would help Williams' company, Star Scientific, win clinical trials for its main product, an anti-inflammatory diet supplement that Williams believed had the potential to treat all sorts of ailments.
McDonnell, who had been the attorney general of Virginia, was elected governor on Nov. 3, 2009. His victory was a huge bright spot for a Republican Party that had taken a beating in the 2008 elections and had no power in the face of President Obama and the Democratic majority in Congress. He was inaugurated on Jan. 16, 2010.
During the campaign, in March 2009, according to the indictment, Attorney General McDonnell's staff approached Williams — who is referred to throughout the indictment as "JW" — about McDonnell using Williams' private jet in the campaign. "Prior to this time," the indictment says, "McDonnell and JW had never met, and they had no personal or professional relationship."
According to the indictment, the two met briefly during the campaign but were basically strangers when McDonnell was elected governor. Then, in December 2009, when McDonnell was governor-elect, Williams asked to meet with McDonnell at an event at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York. At the meeting, Maureen McDonnell allegedly asked Williams for help buying a dress for the upcoming inauguration. Williams said yes. According to the indictment, Maureen McDonnell later told one of her husband's senior staffers, identified only as "JE," that Williams "had agreed to purchase a designer dress by Oscar de la Renta … for the inauguration."
Remember — Bob McDonnell was not even governor yet, and his wife allegedly was already asking for favors. When JE, the staffer, expressed reservations about the idea, finally telling Mrs. McDonnell that it was "inappropriate and should not be done," the soon-to-be first lady backed off, but was angry at her husband's staff. Not long later, she sent JE an email, which is included in the indictment:
I need to talk to you about Inaugural clothing budget. I need answers and Bob is screaming about the thousands I'm charging up in credit card debt. We are broke, have an unconscionable amount in credit card debt already, and this Inaugural is killing us!! I need answers and I need help, and I need to get this done.
In the end, Mrs. McDonnell did not accept the dress from Williams but allegedly said she would take a "rain check."
From there it was off to the races. In October 2010, Williams let McDonnell use his plane for a political trip to California. In the spring of 2011, according to the indictment, Mrs. McDonnell decided to collect on the "rain check." From the indictment:
On or about April 11, 2011, MAUREEN MCDONNELL contacted JW and requested that he take her shopping in New York City for the designer dress by Oscar de la Renta. MAUREEN MCDONNELL explained that she and ROBERT MCDONNELL were attending a political event at the Union League Club in New York City on April 13, 2011, and that she would ensure that JW was seated next to ROBERT MCDONNELL at the event. JW agreed to pay for the shopping trip.
On or about April 13, 2011, JW accompanied MAUREEN MCDONNELL to several luxury stores in New York City, including Oscar de la Renta, Louis Vuitton, and Bergdorf Goodman. MAUREEN MCDONNELL informed JW that she needed dresses and accessories for her daughter's upcoming wedding and for her and ROBERT MCDONNELL'S upcoming anniversary party. JW paid for the entire luxury shopping trip for MAUREEN MCDONNELL and spent approximately $10,999 at Oscar de la Renta, approximately $5,685 at Louis Vuitton, and approximately $2,604 at Bergdorf Goodman. As promised by MAUREEN MCDONNELL, JW was seated next to ROBERT MCDONNELL at the Union League Club event later that evening.
According to the indictment, Williams used his time near the governor to tout his company's products -- something called CigRx, to help people stop smoking, and an anti-inflammatory called Anatabloc. Williams wanted a scientific seal of approval attesting to his products' effectiveness, and the idea was for McDonnell to push one of the universities in the Virginia system to do a clinical study.
The next month, according to the indictment, Maureen McDonnell had a heart-to-heart with Williams, confessing to him that that family was in deep financial trouble. They had rental properties in Virginia Beach that weren't doing well in the economic downturn and were draining their bank account, plus plenty of other expenses they couldn't cover. She asked for a $50,000 loan. According to the indictment, she "told JW that she could help Star Scientific but that she needed JW's financial assistance." At the same meeting, Mrs. McDonnell allegedly asked Williams for another $15,000 to cover expenses for her daughter's upcoming wedding.
Williams later talked directly to the governor about the couple's financial problems, and agreed to loan the money — no paperwork involved. At the same time, according to the indictment, McDonnell starting bugging Virginia state health officials to take a look at Star Scientific's products.
According to prosecutors, the McDonnells started withdrawing from the Williams piggy bank in ways large and small. In May 2011, the governor took his sons to play at an exclusive golf course called Kinloch. Williams wasn't there, but the McDonnells charged it all to him: "approximately $1,200 in greens fees, $500 in caddie fees, $410 in merchandise at the pro shop, and $270 in food and beverages," according to the indictment — a total of $2,380.
In July 2011, the McDonnell family spent a few days at Williams' lavish home at Virginia's Smith Mountain Lake. This is a brief look at what happened, again from the indictment:
MAUREEN MCDONNELL had previously called JW to ask whether JW's Ferrari would be at the house for ROBERT MCDONNELL'S use. JW arranged to have a Star Scientific employee transport the Ferrari from Richmond to his Smith Mountain Lake house so that the defendants could use the Ferrari during their vacation. In addition, JW rented a boat specifically for the defendants' use during the vacation. On or about July 31, 2011, at approximately 7:47 p.m., MAUREEN MCDONNELL sent an email to JW that contained no text but had an attached picture of ROBERT MCDONNELL driving JW's Ferrari.
A day or two later, Maureen McDonnell allegedly met with Williams and noticed Williams was wearing a Rolex watch. She said she wanted to get one for her husband — would Williams mind buying it? She also wanted it engraved, with "71st Governor of Virginia" on the back. Williams bought the watch. In the next month, August 2011, the McDonnell men had three more pricey golf outings at Kinloch, all charged to Williams.
In February 2012, according to the indictment, McDonnell needed — and received — another infusion of $50,000 from Williams to keep the rental properties afloat. In May 2012, Williams sent another $20,000.
Williams also paid for a trip to a Cape Cod resort for the McDonnells. And there was also lots of small stuff at home, according to the indictment:
From in or about November 2012 through in or about March 2013, the defendants obtained yard work and other miscellaneous home repairs at their personal residence from one of JW's brothers. Those services included the installation of a hot tub cover that JW purchased for the defendants and work to re-stain the defendants' deck at their personal residence.
In January 2013, according to the indictment, Maureen McDonnell called Williams' assistant and asked that Williams buy airline tickets for two of the McDonnells' daughters to go to a bachelorette party in Savannah, Ga. Williams bought the tickets.
What did Williams get in return for all his money? According to the indictment, McDonnell allegedly used his influence to hold events related to Williams' products, to try to jump-start clinical trials, to connect Williams with state health officials. Things went so far that at times, it seemed as if the governor of Virginia was a pitchman in a diet supplement infomercial. From the indictment:
On or about March 21, 2012, ROBERT MCDONNELL met with the Virginia Secretary of Administration to discuss the Virginia state employee health plan and ways to reduce healthcare costs in Virginia. During the meeting, ROBERT MCDONNELL pulled some Anatabloc out of his pocket and told the Secretary of Administration and one of her staff members that Anatabloc had beneficial health effects, that he personally took Anatabloc, and that it was working well for him. ROBERT MCDONNELL asked the Secretary of Administration and her staff member to reach out to the "Anatabloc people" and meet with them to discuss Anatabloc.
There are plenty of other allegations in the indictment, most importantly Star Scientific stock transactions that prosecutors say the McDonnells tried to hide from state disclosure requirements. But the heart of the case is the McDonnells' unending requests for more money, more merchandise, more everything from Williams.
A former governor can make a lot of money. He can cash in on the influence he still has after leaving the statehouse. But if the indictment is correct, the McDonnells, in debt and wanting to drive Ferraris and wear Rolexes and play golf at swanky courses, couldn't wait, even four years, for the payoff. And that is the story of United States v. Robert F. McDonnell and Maureen G. McDonnell.
Read the full indictment below.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/201338230/Indictment-of-former-Virginia-governor-Robert-McDonnell
Do you know of a poor politician?
Jan 05, 2012 (a trip down presidential primary lane...):”The quotes in today’s Washington Post by Governor McDonnell lambasting the campaigns of Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and Rick Santorum for their failure to get 10,000 signatures seem to be quite out of character. First of all, the issue is the right of his constituents to vote, not the incompetence of the campaigns. The Governor has never acknowledged this aspect of the situation. Even one admits the current situation denies Republicans what should be their right to vote for the candidate of their choice. This doesn’t mean a federal judge will find for the plaintiffs. That’s a legal issue.
But in terms of the politics around the country, attacking your fellow Republicans as incompetent and saying the failure questions their presidential abilities, seems to be a curious political equation for some who wants to be VEEP. Moreover, Romney’s petitions were never counted, that is never going to sell nationally to a lot of people, all of whom will have delegates at the GOP national convention Bad optics really, plus you have the GOP “loyalty” oath issue, clearly aimed at Ron Paul supporters.......................”
He is a piker compared to mcawful.
yes, now VA has Terry “global crossing” McAuliffe as their governor
a real blow against corruption
sarc
“.............McDonnell’s indictment could have ramifications for other Virginia Republicans as well. Senate candidate Ed Gillespie, the GOP front-runner to face Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), previously served as McDonnell’s campaign chairman and as a senior adviser during his transition into office in 2009. Many members of his campaign team also worked for McDonnell in the past.
“It plays exactly into the ‘fixer’ narrative Democrats are pushing — ‘Republicans aren’t as honest as they sell themselves to be.’ They’re going to try to say Gillespie is cut from the same cloth as Bob McDonnell,” said GOP strategist Ford O’Connell, who has worked on a number of Virginia races.
Gillespie expressed sympathy toward McDonnell following the news.
“I was deeply saddened to hear today’s news concerning my friends Bob and Maureen McDonnell,” he said in a statement to The Hill. “Governor McDonnell has been a dedicated public servant, and he and Maureen are in my prayers as they endure a very painful time in their lives.”
National Democrats say they’re already gearing up to tie McDonnell to Gillespie, but one Virginia Democrat offered some kind words for McDonnell following the indictment.
“I like Bob McDonnell,” said Virginia state Senate Minority Leader Dick Saslaw (D). “I don’t think he’s a criminal, I really don’t. Hopefully a jury will see it that way.”
Virginia’s former first couple accepted more than $135,000 in direct payments as loans and gifts from Williams.
The gifts included a New York City shopping spree for McDonnell’s wife, a trip to watch a Final Four college basketball game, a Rolex watch that had the governor’s title inscribed into it and a stay at a vacation home, among others.
The indictment says McDonnell and his wife broke federal law by using the governor’s office to help Williams. The executive wanted one of his company’s supplements to be included as medications covered under the state employee health plan.
The couple also lied on loan applications instead of declaring their debts, the indictment says...........
.....He was on the shortlist to be former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s running mate in 2012. His name had also previously been circulated as a possible contender for the Republican presidential race in 2016....”
I think the GOP needs to embrace some Tea Party candidates.
CW - 3rd story I’ve read this AM on this. I get the absurd requests from the 1st Lady of Virginia, it’s embarrassing, Clintonesque, even. Hillary certainly couldn’t afford the accoutrements when she launched on the national stage. But none of these stories mention any detail on what it took Byron 1000 words to get to - stock transactions. Are these people tacky or crooks?
Ditto! The swamp needs to be drained.
BTW, I find Reince's silence so far to be rather thunderous.
This guy and his wife sound like real doozies . . .
She sounds just like Hillary living in Arkansas talking to The McDougal’s during Whitewater. Poor me, don’t have any money, it’s not fair that the governor is so poor!
Just like the Clintons should have been vilified for their shenanigans back then so should these clowns. I don’t want to hear about ‘well McAuliffe was worse’. We’re the party that teaches it’s kids two wrongs don’t make it right and character is defined by doing the right thing when no one is looking. Thank G*d I’m not these two.
there is no “Tea Party” anymore
It’s now called “the right wing extreme Tea Party”
the ads have already started, some babe from Virginia is running for some state office and using ads targeting women to vote for her against “the right wing extremist Tea Party”
right wing anti-choice extremists now being anyone who won’t pay for your birth control and abortion
and the “GOP” is complicit in this
I guess a “respectable Republican cloth coat” wasn’t good enough for the missus?
Or an affordable wedding for her daughter.
Since when do we have to accept their interpretation of conservatives?
This is a watershed.
I wonder who found the money to repay (with interest) all the gifts and “loans.”
“......In a statement Tuesday afternoon, McDonnell said he “deeply” regrets accepting gifts and loans from Williams, which were repaid with interest. The former governor, however, denied doing anything illegal for Williams.”...
Poor politician meaning inept and stupid? In the criminal realm MacDonald has the ranking of stickup man.
My wife nailed this when the matter first became public - it was Maureen doing all the requests.....and that she ruled over Bob, demanding a life beyond their means, pushing Williams......(wife is a saint, and can smell a wicked woman a mile away).
It may be that Bob gets off lightly, but she is the one who gets hard time.
I have had time with Bob twice, seems a sincere and super guy. Very stupid in his involvement here, and in letting his wife rule him. Frankly, I doubt that any of this would have happened apart from her.
Be that as it may, McDonnell was the one holding office.
He was fishing to be Romney’s VP. He is an ambitious man.
He knew his financial situation and yet wore the watch, drove the Ferrari, flew on the plane, accepted the stock, paid his income property mortgages with “gifts”, played golf, charged for merchandise/food with his sons, etc. etc. etc — because his wife made him? Poor guy. So weak and willing to please his wife. Really?
Do you think a Tea Party candidate would magically be free from such potential ethical issues? Politicians are politicians. Just because someone labels themselves a member of the Tea Party doesn’t mean they don’t have the potential for skimming from the till.
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