Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell Defense Blames Wife For Gifts, Suggests Affair With CEO
Former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s defense attorneys released a series of personal notes and emails between former First Lady Maureen McDonnell and Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams Friday, in an effort to show the two shared a close relationship. In fact, he suggested they were having an affair, or at least he implied it.
The most notable email came at the close of cross examination by Maureen McDonnell’s defense, in which attorney William Burck produced a message from Mrs. McDonnell to Williams on the day of the 2011 Virginia Earthquake.
On two LCD screens above the courtroom, the email sent by Mrs. McDonnell read, “I just felt the EARTH MOVE AND I WASN’T HAVING SEX!!!!”
IKR? Who jokes around?
Along with the email were phone records introduced from April 2011 to Feb. 2013, indicating that the two exchanged more than 1,200 texts or calls. In comparison, Burck pointed out that Williams and the former Republican Governor exchanged 60 texts or calls during the same time period.
“Irrespective of whether [the relationship] was romantic or not, it was closer than a traditional CEO relationship with the First Lady of Virginia,” former U.S. Assistant Attorney Chuck James said in an interview Friday. “It also shows a level of familiarity that may not be consistent with that of a happily married woman.”
Williams repeatedly said the two were romantically involved.
“Most, if not all of those texts were about business,” Williams said. “I never discussed her personal life with her, it was all business.”
McDonnell’s attorneys tried to establish that the governor was in the dark concerning lavish gifts,then put the blame for them squarely on Maureen McDonnell, according to NBC 12.
“My client never thanked you for the $20,000 worth of stuff purchased on the New York shopping spree,” McDonnell attorney Hank Asbill said. Williams responded, “Now that would be awkward… No.”
That Rolex watch.
The infamous gifting of the Rolex watch was brought up, with Williams testifying that Maureen McDonnell specifically asked for the gift, unbeknownst to the governor.
NBC 12 reports:
The line of questioning was also extended to Williams’ lake house and Ferrari, with Williams saying he offered them to McDonnell without the governor asking.
Williams also revealed Friday that investigators asked him to wear a wire during the early stages of the criminal probe, in order to record his conversations with McDonnell.
“I stopped the meeting right then,” Williams said. “I felt the governor was in trouble and I could be too.”
It’s like McDonnell is probing his wife by force.
Watch:
NBC12.com – Richmond, VA News
H/T: My BFf @ComgenKDT with thanks.
Image: NPR
Budda August 2nd, 2014 at 8:03 am
So, the governor was pimping out his wife?
Carla Akins August 2nd, 2014 at 8:10 am
I do think his wife was the pimp in this relationship, there have been plenty of evidence she used her husband’s clout to secure stuff for herself and her family for a couple of years. I’m not sure his grifting skills are that good – that said, his decision to lay the entire mess at her feet is repugnant.
Tommy6860 August 2nd, 2014 at 8:44 am
That’s what republicanism does; it is always a woman’s fault. If some of those idiot GOPers could, they’d make misogyny an enforceable law.
wpadon August 2nd, 2014 at 11:40 am
It’s not that these men hate women, they don’t like dealing with women outside the of the kitchen and nursery. They want a return to 1950 America.
Budda August 2nd, 2014 at 8:50 am
I think she might have been “hooking” for herself, not ‘pimping’ for the gov.
Carla Akins August 2nd, 2014 at 9:41 am
You could be absolutely correct.
Shades August 2nd, 2014 at 9:39 am
That may be true but he’d have to be some kind of idiot not to wonder where/how/why she was getting the stuff.
Dwendt44 August 2nd, 2014 at 12:44 pm
A ‘flirtation-ship” isn’t REAL cheating. If it were, I can’t see Williams giving the Governor goodies at the same time.
Carla Akins August 2nd, 2014 at 8:33 pm
There are no victims or innocent parties in this mess – except the taxpaying citizens of Virginia.
NW10 August 2nd, 2014 at 8:18 am
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J6oJV2fusfI/UeqmS7o9TxI/AAAAAAAAFfA/Jxp1hkR8c_Y/s1600/c8d72ce0d1450130f5d3001dd8b71c47.gif
labman57 August 2nd, 2014 at 9:27 am
Quid Pro Poontang
uzza August 2nd, 2014 at 9:43 am
— Cliven Bundy Conservative Strategy Handbook
Denise August 2nd, 2014 at 10:56 am
because real men stand behind women when the chips are down, isn’t that righ, mcdonnell?
tiredoftea August 2nd, 2014 at 11:22 am
This certainly puts the whole ultrasound probe thing in perspective, doesn’t it.
arc99 August 2nd, 2014 at 11:44 am
So it has gone from, “I have done nothing wrong” to “It’s all my wife’s fault”.
This is so friggin typical. They claim their indictment is a political “witch hunt”. But a short time later, start jockeying for a plea bargain.
tiredoftea August 2nd, 2014 at 11:52 am
He’s providing the “witch”!
Daniel Jacobsen August 2nd, 2014 at 12:33 pm
Like he never noticed the Rolex !!!!!!
majii August 2nd, 2014 at 7:46 pm
It’s now clear to me why the governor wanted a separate trial from his wife. This is some embarrassing information!
Ryan Eatmon August 3rd, 2014 at 3:35 pm
Didn’t know TMZ had a politics desk. Click bait, nothing more. A third hand account of ridiculous innuendo and “did she, didn’t she”. Just another hatchet job to get reactions as opposed to adding anything of substance. At what point did we decide it was too difficult to be better than the right wing rags and decide to be just like them?