Former Va. Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen were indicted on corruption and fraud charges in federal court today in an ongoing gifts investigation, as the Washington Post first reported.
The McDonnells are accused of illegally accepting gifts from former Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams Sr., who resigned in September. The 14-count indictment includes charges of wire fraud, false statements and obstruction of an official proceeding. McDonnell said in July he paid back more than $124,000 to Williams and apologized for “for the embarrassment certain members of my family and I brought upon my beloved Virginia and her citizens.”
In a statement, McDonnell called the gifts “legal” and the allegations “false.”
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.
Maureen McDonnell’s lawyer said in a separate statement that she is “innocent.”
The Department of Justice has overreached to bring these charges. Thankfully, however, the Department is not the sole arbiter in our justice system, which ultimately is not ruled by the unfounded suspicions of prosecutors but rather the law and the facts as decided by the judge and the jury.
The indictment alleges that McDonnell used his “official position as Governor of Virginia to enrich the defendants and their family members by soliciting and accepting payments, loans, gifts, and other things of value from [Williams] and Star Scientific in exchange for [the Office of the Governor] performing official actions on an as-needed basis, as opportunities arose, to legitimize, promote, and obtain research studies for Star Scientific’s products.”
The indictment also includes an email allegedly sent by Maureen McDonnell to one of her husband’s staffers who became concerned after Williams (identified as “JW”) agreed to buy her an Oscar de la Renta dress for McDonnell’s inauguration.
I need to talk to you about Inaugural clothing budget. I need answers and Bob isscreaming 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.
Maureen McDonnell told Williams she could not accept the dress, but would take a “rain check,” according to the indictment.
She also allegedy sent this text message to Williams in January of last year.
! Would you like to stay at our Beach house in Sandbridge for some of the time you’re in Virginia? Pick the best days and take the time with your family on the Ocean. Or You can have a Star Scientific retreat there and have your team come down and join you for a meeting. If one of the weekends works out with his legislative schedule, I’ll bring Bob down and then you’d have some private time to talk somewhere he’s comfortable. Let me know what you think.
If convicted, the McDonnells would be forced to forfeit property related to the charges including a silver Rolex watch engraved with “71st Governor of Virginia”; several pairs of designer shoes; and many golf shirts. They will appear in court on Friday and each face up to 20 years in prison.
