Leading State Senator Calls on VA Gov. Bob McDonnell: "Come clean," Return gifts...or Resign

[lowkell]

Virginia's Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell is enmeshed in a growing, sordid corruption scandal that also involves Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican nominee for governor in 2013. Today, a leading Virginia State Senator (Chap Petersen) called on Gov. McDonnell to either "come clean," return the gifts he received, or resign. Here's the letter from Sen. Petersen.


http://bluevirginia.us/diary/9634/sen-chap-petersen-calls-on-bob-mcdonnell-come-clean-return-giftsor-resign-as-governor

[okaawhatever]

1. If the folks in Virginai think the investigation will be fair, why not wait until it's over? It will

be closer to election time, and fresher in the memory of voters. I say that thinking he will be charged with something.

[yellowcanine]

2. He won't resign. VAs ethics laws are so weak he will skate on this.

There isn't enough there to hang anything on. Most of the gifts were either to his wife or daughter, supposedly - of course we know better - and than it is just a question of reporting or not reporting. I think he has been totally sleazy and there will be plenty there which will come back to haunt him if he runs for national office (particularly the Rolex watch) but this is not going anywhere legally, imo. Businesses can pretty much buy politicians in Virginia and there is little which can be done legally, barring a videotape of someone accepting an outright bribe. It could hurt Cooch, though, by depressing Republican turnout.