The former governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen are indicted on 14 counts for accepting money and gifts from a wealthy businessmen and lying to federal investigators, the Associated Press reported.
It all began when Jonnie Williams, CEO of Star Scientific, a company which describes themselves as "a technology-oriented company with a mission to promote maintenance of a healthy metabolism and lifestyle," offered his personal jet to McDonnell and his wife to use on the campaign trail, the AP reported.
After McDonnell was elected governor of Virginia, Williams asked McDonnell to a meeting at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York to which McDonnell brought his wife Maureen, according to the AP.
During the meeting Maureen mentioned she wanted to wear an Oscar de la Renta dress to the inauguration next month, according to the federal indictment. Williams obliged, but Maureen later refused the dress after the governors aide said it would be a bad idea. Maureen told Williams she would take a "rain check," the AP reported.
As the inauguration drew near, Maureen sent an email to one of the governor's staffers describing the family as "broke," according to the AP.
"I need to talk to you about Inaugural clothing budget," the email said, according to the AP. "I need answers and Bob is screaming about the thousands I'm charging up in credit card debt. We are broke and have an unconscionable amount in credit card debt already and this Inaugural is killing us!! I need answers and I need help, and I need to get this done."
The indictment states the exchange of money and gifts began in 2009 when the couple, but mostly McDonnell's wife, began asking for gifts and money from Williams, who in turn expected the governor to promote Star Scientific products, the AP reported.
Some of the gifts mentioned in the indictments included shopping sprees for Maureen, a vacation stay at William's vacation home in Smith Mountain Lake, about $70,000 in loans and $15,000 to help pay for the catering service at McDonnell's daughter's wedding, according to the AP.
After their stay at Williams' home, McDonnell set up a meeting with the Virginia senior state health official at the time to pitch Star Scientific products and propose the idea government employees could serve as the control group for the research he was proposi, the AP reported.
Another luxurious gift on the list was a $6,500 Rolex watch engraved with "71st Governor of Virginia" which Maureen asked Williams to buy, according to the AP.
Since the indictment was issued, McDonnell has openly apologized for taking the money from Williams and that he has returned more than $120,000 in gifts and loans given to the family by Williams, the AP reported.
The former governor also said "federal prosecutors stretched the law to make a case against him and his wife," while addressing the media on Tuesday night, according to the AP.
"I will use every available resource and advocate that I have for as long as it takes to fight and prevail against these false allegations and the unjust overreach of the federal government," McDonnell said, reading from a statement and taking no questions afterwards, the AP reported.
Here is a list of the items and loans given to the McDonnells since 2009 which may be taken by the federal government if the two are indicted, according to the indictment and reported by the Washington Post:
The sum of not less than $140,805.46
Black Rebecca Minkoff shoes
Black Louis Vuitton shoes
White Louis Vuitton shoes
Cream Louis Vuitton purse
Cream Louis Vuitton wallet
Silver Rolex Watch engraved with "71st Governor of Virginia"
Yellow Peter Som dress
Blue Armani jacket and two matching dresses
Two gold Oscar de la Renta dresses
Black Louis Vuitton rain coat
Gold Oscar de le Renta sweater
One pair of Amelia Rose earrings
One Gear sweatshirt
Two pairs of Foot Joy golf shoes
One button-down Ralph Lauren shirt
One white Peter Millar golf shirt
One baby blue striped Peter Millar golf shirt
One royal blue Peter Millar golf shirt
One aqua Fairway Greene Tech golf shirt
One white striped Ralph Lauren golf shirt
One Ping University of Virginia golf bag
One Ping Kinloch golf bag
One Sun Mountain Notre Dame golf bag
Two sets of golf clubs
One Heather Mackenzie water color and frame
Two iPhones
30 boxes of Anatabloc