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"We are broke," confessed former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell's wife Maureen in an email to his staff, and "have an unconscionable amount in credit card debt." Let's assume for the sake of argument that this is true. Does it exonerate the McDonnells from the very-serous allegations of accepting gifts in return for using the governor's office to dish out special treatment? Of course not. And yet... it might serve as at least a partial explanation as to why someone who seemed to be a rising star in politics would risk throwing it all away.

RUSH: Quick. How many of you have heard the name Bob McDonnell? Quick. If you haven't heard of him, he was the governor of Virginia for a few years. I have to tell you, I had no idea he was a threat to Hillary Clinton. I didn't even know that McDonnell was planning on running for president. But he must be doing something because the Democrats, after he's left office, have indicted him out there. BREAK TRANSCRIPT RUSH: I'm gonna tell you what's really going on with this. And I don't mean to make light of charges. I mean, here's...

Earlier this month, Bob McDonnell became former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell. On Tuesday, he became indicted former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell. Just days after he left office, the Republican and and his wife, Maureen McDonnell, were charged in federal court with more than a dozen counts related to the tens of thousands of dollars in gifts and loans they accepted from a wealthy Virginia businessman. (The ex-governor maintained on Tuesday that he had done nothing illegal.) The fact that the McDonnells were under scrutiny from prosecutors was no secret. Stories about the investigation, and the relationship between the McDonnells and...

<p>New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell were the first victors in the Tea Party wave, riding fresh conservative enthusiasm--and outrage over Obamacare--to victory in November 2009. The left, predictably, is trying to link Christie's bullying scandal and McDonnell's corruption indictment to that Tea Party support. The truth, however, is that they dumped their Tea Party principles and supporters long ago.</p>

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 allege that for nearly two years, the McDonnells repeatedly asked executive Jonnie R. Williams Sr. for loans and gifts of money, clothes, golf fees and equipment, trips, and private plane rides. The gifts and loans totaled at least $165,000.

Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife were indicted Tuesday on corruption charges after a monthslong federal investigation into gifts the Republican received from a political donor. The 14-count indictment against McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, includes one count of conspiracy to commit honest-services wire fraud; three counts of honest-services wire fraud; one count of conspiracy to obtain property under color of official right; six counts of obtaining property under color of official right; and one count of making false statements to a federal credit union.

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...

Election night 2009 was one Republicans could savor. A year after Barack Obama had won the presidency, and Democrats had expanded their majorities in the House and Senate, the GOP roared back with two big, hard-fought gubernatorial wins in two key states, with Chris Christie knocking off incumbent Jon Corzine in New Jersey and Bob McDonnell rolling to a landslide victory in Virginia. Both were considered potential future presidential candidates. Fifty months later, the night appears to have been a false dawn, as both men face accusations, and mounting evidence, of betraying the public trust. Christie campaigned as the...

The Justice Department has reportedly delayed until next year a decision on whether to indict outgoing Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife in connection with a gifts scandal — a decision that came after a face-to-face appeal by the couple’s lawyers. A report by The Washington Post late Wednesday night said U.S. Attorney Dana Boente told lawyers for the governor and first lady Maureen McDonnell a week ago that he planned to ask a grand jury to return an indictment by this past Monday over allegedly inappropriate help they gave dietary supplement maker Star Scientific after receiving gifts from...

November 6, 2013 RNC: Hey, don’t blame us for Cuccinelli’s loss ALLAHPUNDIT ... Fun fact: The RNC spent $9 million to help Bob McDonnell win the governor’s seat four years ago. This year, in a much tougher election, they spent $3 million on Ken Cuccinelli, with Cooch so strapped for cash at the end that he had to abandon the D.C. media market the last two weeks. Not all of his money problems were the RNC’s fault — McAuliffe dominated Cuccinelli in fundraising (as expected) and centrist outside groups like the Chamber of Commerce ignored him — but the big...

Virginia’s National Guard will provide health insurance and other benefits to same-sex couples, Gov. Robert F. McDonnell said Thursday, one day after a state delegate urged him to defy a new Pentagon directive to treat all marriages equally. In a letter to McDonnell this week, Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William) warned that providing the benefits would violate the state constitutional ban on gay marriage. “As Commander of the Virginia National Guard[,] what will you do to secure that the spirit and letter of the [state] Constitution regarding marriage will be upheld?” Marshall wrote. McDonnell, a social conservative who has...

Gun-related violent crime continues to drop in Virginia as the sales of firearms continue to soar, a pattern that one local criminologist finds interesting “given the current rhetoric about strengthening gun laws.” Major gun crime collectively dropped for a fourth consecutive year statewide, while firearms sales climbed to a new record in 2012 with 490,119 guns purchased in 444,844 transactions — a 16 percent rise over 2011, according to federally licensed gun dealer sales estimates obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The proliferation of guns occurred as the total number of major reported crimes committed with all types of firearms in...

Gun-related violent crime continues to drop in Virginia as the sales of firearms continue to soar, a pattern that one local criminologist finds interesting "given the current rhetoric about strengthening gun laws." Major gun crime collectively dropped for a fourth consecutive year statewide, while firearms sales climbed to a new record in 2012 with 490,119 guns purchased in 444,844 transactions -- a 16 percent rise over 2011, according to federally licensed gun dealer sales estimates obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

RICHMOND — Gov. Robert F. McDonnell announced Tuesday that he and his wife have repaid more than $120,000 to Star Scientific chief executive Jonnie R. Williams Sr. and apologized for the first time for the controversy involving the prominent donor. “I am deeply sorry for the embarrassment certain members of my family and I brought upon my beloved Virginia and her citizens,” McDonnell said in a statement announced via Twitter. “I want you to know that I broke no laws and that I am committed to regaining your sacred trust and confidence. I hope today’s action is another step toward...

The door opened Monday for tens of thousands of nonviolent felons in Virginia to regain the right to vote, with state officials outlining steps each will have to take to recapture their basic civil rights. Gov. Bob McDonnell has said up to 100,000 disenfranchised felons ultimately could be added to the voter rolls, serve on a jury or hold political office.“For past offenders, our goal is to grant civil rights back to as many as possible,” McDonnell said in a statement. “This is the right thing to do for all Virginians to help make the commonwealth a safer and better...

NOVA Women’s Healthcare of Fairfax County was one of the largest and most frequented abortion clinics in the state of Virginia. It performed more abortions than any other provider in the Old Dominion in the last few years, including 3,066 in 2012 alone. But, thanks to new abortion regulations in the state and a denied permit, it has seen its last patient. It’s speculated that new Virginia regulations which require clinics to meet new hospital-grade standards had forced NOVA to find a new location. The clinic never got the chance though, for the city denied its permit for being one...

Dear Supporter, We have a unique opportunity in Virginia. Governor Bob McDonnell is currently considering which felonies should be categorized as “non-violent” for the purpose of the new, more streamlined restoration of civil rights process that will go into effect as early as next week. Right now, there are several felonies arbitrarily classified as “violent,” like breaking and entering or drug possession with intent to distribute. Those particular felonies disproportionately affect people of color and communities in poverty. We need your help. Will you take the time to email Governor Bob McDonnell and ask that he take the broadest approach...

Update: Here are the denials. It’s unclear to me whether my sources know something Deutsch doesn’t or were basing their opinion on his reporting. I will update for accuracy as it goes on. Sources close to JHPolitics are confirming what was broken by Willie Deutsch of Bearing Drift. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell is, if reports are to be believed, resigning from office over pending corruption charges. Willie’s take: The man who pushed out the RPV chairman over trumped up corruption charges while running for governor is currently in the middle of finalizing a plea agreement which includes his resignation as...

We’ve all seen photos of Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. Particularly last year when he was being mentioned as a possible vice presidential pick on the Romney ticket. He would be beaming, with a large, toothy smile, looking well groomed and squeaky clean. And no wonder, this wholesome image was the product of a group effort, since the governor relies on Virginia taxpayers to keep him smelling fresh. According to Laura Vozzella in the Washington Post, the McDonnell family has used its government–supplied credit card much like the GSA uses its card. Billing the taxpayers for “body wash, sunscreen, dog vitamins...

Some of the new laws that take effect in Virginia on Monday, July 1. Each new law is listed by its legislative bill numbers, a short summary and the chapter where it will be found in Virginia's laws for 2013.