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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 for nearly two years, the McDonnells hit up executive Jonnie R. Williams Sr. again and again, lodging near constant requests for large loans, clothes, trips, golf accessories and private plane rides.
In exchange, authorities allege, the McDonnells worked in concert to lend the prestige of the governorship to Williams’ struggling company, a small former cigarette manufacturer that now sells dietary supplements.
They said the first couple arranged access for the CEO to top state officials, allowed the historic governor’s mansion to be used for a launch party for his company’s new non-FDA approved pill and attended events designed to boost the company’s prestige with university scientists who might research the company’s product.
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.
Charges mean the couple could face a maximum of decades in prison, though would likely serve far less if convicted.
“We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute public corruption,” said U.S. Attorney Dana Boente in a statement.
A lawyer for McDonnell released a statement from the former governor denying his actions were illegal and promising to fight the charges in court.
“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,” he said.
“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 remember seeing some of this back in about September, I think, when the governor's race started to get heated a bit. I haven't really delved into this again, but I seem to recall at the time feeling that this was far less criminal and far more just flat-out tacky. The guy was hawking diet supplements as if he were on some late-night infomercial or something. Just really low-class, and while low class isn't illegal, it's certainly unbecoming of the office.
What a dumb thing to do.
Frankly, the charges seem rather petty, all things considered. I'm not going to just declare this a witch-hunt, but it seems like the DOJ really stretched themselves to find something with which to charge him. A six-month federal investigation, and all they can really come up with is some charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud? That seems awfully weak, particularly given that it's plenty obvious that the U.S. Attorney in this case is scraping up everything he can find to throw at these two.
I guess we'll see when more facts come out, but at first blush, this strikes me as pretty much a great big waste of time. He already left office under a great big black cloud of scandal, his political career was done for, and now they drum up these charges that, realistically, will never result in anything more than a five-figure fine and no jail time? There are far more important things going on in this country that the DOJ should be involved with.
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