Former Virginia Governor and His Wife Are Indicted


Former Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia and his wife, Maureen, were
indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury on charges of accepting some
$140,000 in loans and gifts in exchange for promoting the business of a
political patron.

The 14-count indictment filed by the United States attorney for the
Eastern District of Virginia included charges of bribery and fraud
relating to the McDonnells’ relationship with Jonnie Williams Sr., the
chief executive of Star Scientific, a maker of dietary supplements, who
hoped to use the governor to promote his products.

The scandal also cast a shadow over the campaign of the Republican
candidate who sought to succeed him, Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II, who lost
in November to the current governor, Terry McAuliffe.

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I’m glad to see this, not because McDonnell (Governor Ultrasound) is a
Republican, but because he is a smug, righteous asshole whose actions
caused great harm to women, minorities, public education, and the poor,
and for leading the charge to privatize what should be public functions.
I’m also thankful, because McDonnell’s troubles created problems for the
insane Cuccinelli, and the equally nutso GOP candidates for Lieutenant
Governor and Attorney General, who also lost their elections.