Bob McDonnell and his wife were finally charged with a 14-count indictment (Richmond: appointed, fit in)

[Ted Bear]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

This article has some very weird details about the Worst Lady's behavior and how she treated the mansion staff and even a State Trooper. Shameful.

Did you see her during his mea culpa speech this evening? She had that Leona Helmsley look on her face..."only the little people don't participate in these sorts of schemes."

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by Ted Bear

Did you see her during his mea culpa speech this evening? She had that Leona Helmsley look on her face..."only the little people don't participate in these sorts of schemes."

I couldn't believe they held a press conference or that they denied the allegations. The authorities have both of them dead to rights; they should just keep their mouths shut. But then if they had enough sense to do that, they wouldn't have asked for and accepted all the money and gifts in the first place.

[Ed_Wood]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

I couldn't believe they held a press conference or that they denied the allegations. The authorities have both of them dead to rights; they should just keep their mouths shut. But then if they had enough sense to do that, they wouldn't have asked for and accepted all the money and gifts in the first place.

I guess they don't have enough money for a good enough lawyer to tell them to shutup. Wifey looked pissed!

[JD984]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

I read through the actual indictment. It's a lot worse than I had previously thought. They were in dire financial straits due to two beach houses that weren't generating rental income as they'd planned. Mrs. McD then began asking Jonnie Williams for various gifts (shopping trips for her at Bergdorf's, a Rolex for Bob, etc.), the $50,000 no-paperwork loan, the $15,000 "wedding gift," another $50,000 loan/gift, etc.--in clear exchange for promoting Mr. Williams' business. I almost feel embarrassed for the McDonnells--but the boldness of their stupidity is truly stunning.

Pages 38 and 42 have, respectively, handy lists of the cash gifts (totalling over $130,00) and of the clothing and jewelry items, which add up to over $140,000.

By the way, here are the official rules for Federal employees that ChristineVA refers to. (I'm surprised to hear you can't chip in $5 for someone's going-away lunch, but I haven't read the regs lately.)

You got through the entire indictment? Wow. I quit after the 101st reference to the McDonnell's pitching Anatabloc to hapless state and university officials. You just know everyone around was constantly rolling their eyes and trying to escape before they brought it up again.

[ACWhite]

C, that Washingtonian article was great. Either these two are incredibly arrogant or all that drinking addled their brains, maybe?

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by JEB77

You got through the entire indictment? Wow. I quit after the 101st reference to the McDonnell's pitching Anatabloc to hapless state and university officials. You just know everyone around was constantly rolling their eyes and trying to escape before they brought it up again.

Indeed--probably like bringing up religion with John Travolta!

I must admit I started skimming after the first 10 pages or so. I almost felt sorry Jonnie Williams; I mean, here's the wife of the governor with this sob story about their finances, and she flat-out asks you to buy her inauguration dress. Then for a loan. Then to buy her husband a Rolex. I would've been trying to avoid her like the plague--but then, he was getting a lot in return: gubernatorial sponsorship of his snake oil.

[ACWhite]

What I'd like to know is, where did he get the money to repay Williams?

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

I'm just now reading this article by the former chef in the governor's mansion. Lemme tell ya: It's jaw dropping.

A very tabloid-ish article, but very telling nonetheless. Definitely not the kind of article you would expect from a newspaper. Seems very gossipy with not much information being corroborated. I'm not saying that everything he said wasn't true, because honestly I believe there is truth in most, but considering how this guy views the McDonnells and Cuccinelli, I don't know how a newspaper can publish that entire story without getting more detail from other sources. I mean the guy literally was quoted in saying how much he disdained certain individuals that he was discussing. Wouldn't that at least make you wonder how truthful everything he was saying was?

This is very embarrassing for the state. It seems a irresponsible and almost arrogant that the McDonnells would take these actions and didn't think they would get caught.

[Grsz11]

Mr and Mrs are both going to prison. Good riddance.

[FCNova]

Originally Posted by pgtvatitans

A very tabloid-ish article, but very telling nonetheless. Definitely not the kind of article you would expect from a newspaper. Seems very gossipy with not much information being corroborated. I'm not saying that everything he said wasn't true, because honestly I believe there is truth in most, but considering how this guy views the McDonnells and Cuccinelli, I don't know how a newspaper can publish that entire story without getting more detail from other sources. I mean the guy literally was quoted in saying how much he disdained certain individuals that he was discussing. Wouldn't that at least make you wonder how truthful everything he was saying was?

This is very embarrassing for the state. It seems a irresponsible and almost arrogant that the McDonnells would take these actions and didn't think they would get caught.

It was an entertainment magazine, not newspaper. Par for the course for Washingtonian. Great read though. Even if it's only 50% true it still brings to light so much arrogance and abuse of power. The sad thing is this is probably not all that uncommon.