(WALL STREET JOURNAL) Federal authorities charged former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife on Tuesday with illegally accepting luxurious gifts, vacations, loans and the use of a private jet in exchange for promoting dietary supplement products.
The 14-count indictment alleges that Mr. McDonnell, once a rising star within the Republican Party, used his office to promote the company, Virginia-based Star ScientificInc., STSI +1.48% by arranging meetings for its then chief executive with state officials and hosting events at the governor’s mansion, designed in part to encourage state university researchers to study the company’s products.
At the same time, authorities charged, Mr. McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, solicited and accepted more than $135,000 in loans and gifts from the then-CEO, Jonnie Williams Sr. , including thousands of dollars in designer clothing and golf outings for Mr. McDonnell and his sons, and the use of Mr. Williams’s vacation home and Ferrari.
