A pivotal moment in the corruption trial of Robert F. McDonnell and his wife began Monday as a prosecutor aggressively opened his cross-examination of the former Virginia governor.
In a series of rapid-fire questions, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Dry asked whether McDonnell denied key facts about his relationship with businessman Jonnie R. Williams Sr. - who prosecutors say bribed the first couple in an effort to curry favor for his onetime company.
Did McDonnell deny that he knew that Williams paid $15,000 for his daughter's wedding?
'No,' McDonnell replied.
Did he deny that Williams loaned $50,000 to the family in 2011?
'No,' McDonnell said.
How about that he personally negotiated $70,000 in loans from Williams for his real estate company in 2012? Or accepted golf outings and equipment? Or attended pricey dinners with Williams, and vacationed at a Smith Mountain Lake home and at a Cape Cod resort courtesy of the businessman? Drove his Ferrari?
'No,' McDonnell answered repeatedly.
The sharp questions hinted at the high stakes for both McDonnell and prosecutors. The government's case is expected to hinge on how well McDonnell explains to jurors why he and his wife accepted those gifts and what he did for Williams.
Prosecutors contend Williams lavished those gifts and others on the McDonnells in exchange for promotion of his company, Star Scientific, and a new dietary supplement it was launching, Anatabloc. Dry's questions went over that area in detail during McDonnell's hours on the stand Monday.
In a handful of instances, McDonnell testified it was his wife, Maureen, who handled key details of the couple's interactions with Williams, saying at one point she 'made a lot of decisions.'
He also acknowledged, under questioning from his wife's attorney before the cross-examination began, that Maureen had sought mental health treatment in 2012 and taken medication. The defense has contended that the first couple's marriage was so troubled, that they could not have conspired. Maureen McDonnell, they contend, was unhappy and became close with Williams.
McDonnell testified previously that he was angry when he learned that his wife had received a $50,000 loan from Williams in May 2011.
Dry wondered during the cross-examination: h ow soon was it before the governor himself reached out to Williams about the loan?
Thirty to 45 days, McDonnell responded. McDonnell said his wife had already arranged the terms, and he merely had a follow-up discussion with Williams about them.
'It was my wife's loan, Mr. Dry,' McDonnell said.
Likewise, McDonnell testified Monday that he talked briefly with Williams while he was driving home from a vacation at the businessman's lakeside home in 2011. But he denied knowing even then that Williams was supposed to meet with his wife the next day, or that Williams wanted a meeting with a state health official.
McDonnell said he merely thanked Williams for the vacation on the call, and it was not until he got home that his wife told him she planned to meet with the businessman to talk about his company, Star Scientific. McDonnell has testified previously that he then, of his own accord, asked his health secretary to send a representative to the meeting so that no promises or commitments would be extended.
Dry seemed skeptical of that account. The prosecutor noted that the first lady is not a public official.
'As such, she had no decision-making authority whatsoever, did she?' Dry asked.
'Not for official action. She made a lot of decisions,' McDonnell said. The words seemed carefully chosen, as prosecutors must prove that he and his wife performed or promised to perform 'official' actions for Williams if they are to substantiate the corruption charges.
Dry also attacked the notion that McDonnell and his wife were on the skids by demonstrating that the two vacationed together 18 times over 22 months while he was governor.
After asking McDonnell to confirm the number, the former governor said he would need to see documentation. So Dry showed him. Trips to the state-owned home at Camp Pendleton. Trips to the Wintergreen Resort and to the Homestead. A 2011 trip to Florida. A second trip to Miami Beach in 2012, where the couple watched Notre Dame play in the national championship. An anniversary trip to Barboursville.
Repeatedly, McDonnell insisted these were trips taken not just with his wife, but also his children and sometimes other people. 'I tried to spend as much time as I could with my wife and my children,' he said. 'What little personal time I had, I tried to spend with my family.'
Laura Vozzella and Rachel Weiner contributed to this report.
Posted by Unknown on Monday, August 25, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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