FORMER VIRGINIA GOVERNOR, WIFE CONVICTED ON FEDERAL CORRUPTION CHARGES
Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell was found guilty of eleven counts of public corruption related to gifts he received from one of his top political donors. Meanwhile his wife, former Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell, was found guilty of eight counts of public corruption, including an obstruction of justice charge.
The couple could face decades in prison and millions of dollars in fines as a result of their convictions.
The former governor wept as the verdicts were announced.
The McDonnells were found guilty of accepting more than $165,000 worth of gifts – including shopping sprees, vacations, a Rolex watch (for him) and catering costs at their daughter’s wedding. In exchange for these gifts, McDonnell used the power of the governor’s office to advance the business interests of Jonnie Williams, CEO of a company specializing in dietary supplements.
Williams first began assisting McDonnell in March of 2009 – letting him travel on his company’s corporate jet. That November McDonnell – then Virginia’s attorney general – defeated Creigh Deeds to become the state’s 71st governor.
After McDonnell’s election, the ties with Williams deepened. He took Maureen McDonnell on a $19,000 shopping spree in New York, then gave her a $50,000 loan. Meanwhile Bob McDonnell set up meetings for Williams and hosted a luncheon at the governor’s office to help him launch a new product.
Making the trial even more noteworthy? The McDonnells’ defense – which hinged on their “broken” marriage and the fact Maureen McDonnell was romantically drawn to Williams. According to defense attorneys, the couple couldn’t have possibly conspired because they were living apart from one another.
Needless to say, the jury didn’t buy that …
Sentencing for the McDonnells will be in January. In the meantime, Democrats across the country made political hay over the convictions.
South Carolina Democrats released a picture of McDonnell with incumbent “Republican” Nikki Haley – who has had more than her fair share of ethics issues.
“South Carolinians are still waiting for Nikki Haley to stand up to these corrupt politicians and pledge not to welcome them to our state,” a release from the party stated. “But then, praising indicted allies is exactly what you’d expect from the governor who listed fines against her from the Ethics Commission as a ‘business expense’ and regards her repeated ethical infractions as just the cost of doing business.”
27 comments
Chris Christie is next:
http://mankabros.com/blogs/those_damn_kids/2014/01/22/christie-and-mcdonnell-nailed-all-the-seven-deadly-sins/
R’s or D’s, who gives a crap. Burn corruption in both parties!
+ 20! “Like” “Like” “Like”
Yup yup yup. EXACTLY
You’ve nailed it — but any morally-bankrupt sleazeball who can win the Republican nomination to any office is an automatic winner. That won’t help change things. Take a look at Sanford.
Nikki Haley flies on private jets all the time. Many of them owned by companies that received incentives from SC, such as Nephron Pharmaceuticals, Boeing, and many others.
She has taken box seats at professional baseball games from those receiving incentive and ocean front condo’s from those that have large contracts with SC. And lots, lots more.
Will she ever be prosecuted? Nope, this is SC and all of that is just A O K.
True …
It remains A.O.K. because the ignorant and passive voters of SC keep re-electing the same miscreants.
How can this happen in Virginia and the perps get caught and punished, but in SC all is ok?
Knock knock, hello…. Feds, anybody watching? We go a buncho that shit down here.
How Repubnant!
How “politician-like!” Wake up! They are all self-serving hypocrites.
“By the people, for the people.” Not “above” the people
Tango down! Next up: Cuomo, Christie, Corzine!
On a side note, Its amazing how a grand jury will indict Perry but not a true swindling criminal like Jon Corzine
Deflect! Deflect!
This was an important verdict nationwide including South Carolina. Some comments have said “Yeah, that’s Virginia. It will never happen here.” Bob McConnell was not found guilty of violating any Virginia laws. These verdicts were all on Federal charges. Bobby Harrell watch out.
Nikki Haley, unregistered lobbyist while serving in the House, should have to watch out.
Of course, it appears Bill Nettles is the sorriest US Attorney in the country, so very few appear to have much of anything to worry about.
How may hundreds of millions did Corzine ” disappear”? MEDIA blackout….gee…wonder why? ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION costs over $52 billion a year… whom can the US taxpayer sue? Will Justice pay the taxpayer restitution ?
Typical right-wing idiot response. Caught red-handed! Deflect! Deflect!
Pathetic in the predictability of the response, ain’t it?
Pathetic.
Another scumbag. He has rocketed up to #1 on the SC Political Digest’s Best Bet to win the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.
For poor Bob McDonnell,
There’s no light at the end of the tunnel.
And that lachrymose scene at the courthouse? Maureen
Distributed her tears with a funnel.
The Robertson-Regent alumnus
Once was polishing bling with some pomace.
Now he won’t be so prolix when he’s missing his Rolex
In the pen where he’ll spend his next summers.
Here is a thought, maybe minor–
He should have been guvnuh of South Carolina.
For here, grift and graft just make people laugh
And corruption is mere misdemeanor.
Brilliant!
Excellent!
Though “pomace” probably should be “pumice.”
Pomace is too soft to polish with.
Dear SSFH: You were astute to pick up on my weak play on words. I had been drinking a CA zinfandel, called “Earthquake,” the previous evening: it’s alcohol content? 15.5%.
Threw his wife under the bus for nothing……what a buffalo chip.
Family values!
Best part is he turned down a sweetheart plea deal to plea guilty to 1 count of corruption, all records sealed, and wife wouldn’t get prosecuted. That deal in its self is corrupt as hell.