Posted on 01/21/2014 2:10:49 PM PST by don-o
Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife were indicted Tuesday on corruption charges after a monthslong federal investigation into gifts the Republican received from a political donor.
The 14-count indictment against McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, includes one count of conspiracy to commit honest-services wire fraud; three counts of honest-services wire fraud; one count of conspiracy to obtain property under color of official right; six counts of obtaining property under color of official right; and one count of making false statements to a federal credit union.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
I posted McDonnell’s email response on the other thread, and here it is again:
Friends,
Earlier today former Governor Bob McDonnell released a statement regarding the false indictment built upon discredited witnesses that was filed today in federal court.
Please take time to read below
The Restoration Fund
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.
Robert F. McDonnell
Former Governor of Virginia
He had threatened to call Obama as a witness but he had already been indicted by then. Obama was subpoenaed but the judge threw out the subpoena.
Intended strictly as a political prosecution, just like NJ and Wisconsin. Initiated straight out of the corrupted DOJ.
The only purpose of this is to drag it across the headlines for the next year in order to deliver Virginia as a newly minted blue-state in 2014 and eventually 2016.
Nope, or a racist black panther, or a commie conspiracy to arm the insurgency, only conservative whites go to jail..
“However, I repeat emphatically that I did nothing illegal for Mr. Williams in exchange for what I believed was his personal generosity and friendship.”
Yes, $120k in friendship. This guy is a liar and a cynical hack out to monetize his position.
He should be more honest: “I did nothing technically illegal, and I thought I’d get away with it because, you know, I’m special.”
My wife keeps telling me to stop cussing. I can’t begin to tell you how angry and disappointed I am in how this. Trying not to judge but it’s hard not to see this as justified. What bothers me the most is he and his wife were so weak-minded to get themselves into this situation to begin with. What an idiot! If he was so broke he had to accept this money he should have found a real job and stayed out of politics.
Am I the only one who sees the Clintons behind this? McDonnell was a P or VP contender in 2016 (as was Christie). To me, it appears they are clearing the field. Sadly, McD gave just enough smoke to burn an overzealous fire. They installed McAuliffe as governor, then got rid of McD. It feels so familiar (Clinton politics), but it could just be me...
We cannot ignore the fact that the governor is being persecuted by a Democratic administration. In almost all cases that fact means that is all political.
Yep, saw this coming for months. He was a conservative GOP “rising star” with Presidential aspirations. His first mistake was raising taxes on some toll road deal I think. Then he was foolish enough to get in bed with a phony vitamin huckster and take a bunch of tacky gifts and shopping sprees. Bad judgement, and he and wife are looking at 20 years max. Cop a plea, Governor.
Welcome to Free Republic.
/johnny
Maybe he doesn’t think he’s guilty. Unlike some Freepers, I’m going to wait and see the evidence. So far I’ve seen nothing to prove he’s done something illegal.
No it’s not just you.
>> First sentence!
Yeah, but it was near the end of the first sentence.
No, this Virginian is sad to say that trailer park McDonell and his revolting wife have this coming.
No question that McDonnell was, at a minimum, foolish in the extreme to get involved in with Williams. He should also have understood that with the Chicago thugs infesting the DOJ, anything he did would be looked at with a magnifying glass for possible criminal activity.
Whether McDonnell broke the law is unclear to me in that I have not seen how Williams benefited from any of McDonnell’s actions, other than to be seen as a visible “friend” of McDonnell.That seems rather thin as evidence of a money for favors scheme.
Maybe something exists but being a sleazy politician isn’t a crime. But even in the best case for McDonnell and he is acquitted, he will be forced to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars or more in defending himself. If credible evidence is produced that he used his office to benefit Williams, then McDonnell should be convicted.
Well then.
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