Politics & Government
McDonnell’s Apology: Is It Enough?
The Virginia governor apologized Tuesday amid an ethics scandal, maintaining he did nothing wrong.
By Erica R. Hendry
Virginia Gov.Bob McDonnell apologized this week for the “embarrassment” an ethics scandal has brought to his home state and repaid more than $120,000 in loans to Star Scientific head Jonnie Williams.
McDonnell released the statement while on a trip to visit U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Kuwait. It marked a change in strategy for handling the federal and state investigations into thousands of dollars in gifts that Williams gave McDonnell and his family.
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His statement didn’t directly address the gifts from Williams, including a $15,000 catering bill for McDonnell’s daughter’s wedding and a Rolex watch that was eventually given to the governor.
McDonnell maintains he did nothing wrong, and that Williams gave the gifts to members of his family, which is legal according to Virginia’s gift disclosure laws.
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While abroad this week, McDonnell told NBC Washington he has no plans to give up his office or to even consider it.
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