Ex-governor's corruption trial focuses on marriage
Source: Associated Press
Ex-governor's corruption trial focuses on marriage
By LARRY O'DELL and ALAN SUDERMAN, Associated Press | July 29, 2014 | Updated: July 29, 2014 3:07pm
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) The corruption trial for ex-Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife plunged Tuesday into the sordid details of the couple's marriage and the former first's lady's "crush" on a businessman accused of lavishing them with gifts and cash in exchange for promoting his company.
The McDonnells are charged in a 14-count indictment with accepting more than $165,000 in loans, designer clothes, vacations and a Rolex watch from Jonnie Williams, the CEO of dietary supplements maker Star Scientific. If convicted, they could face decades in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber said during opening statements that McDonnell and his wife betrayed the public's trust by lining their pockets with "secret gifts and cash." McDonnell, a once-rising star in the Republican party who left office in January, had a duty "not to sell the power and influence of his office to the highest bidder," Aber said.
"Mr. and Mrs. McDonnell knew what Mr. Williams wanted and gave it to him," she said.
Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Prosecutor-Ex-governor-wife-illegally-took-gifts-5654018.php
H2O Man
(73,308 posts)This is an important case, even if it appears to be a run-of-the-mill story of greed and corruption.
QuestForSense
(653 posts)silvershadow
(10,336 posts)supercats
(429 posts)So maybe, just maybe it will make other politicians think twice before they do it again themselves.