30 Apr 2013 11:45 am
Feds Investigating Relationship Between VA Gov And DonorFBI agents are conducting interviews about the relationship between Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, his wife, Maureen, and a major campaign donor who paid for the food at the wedding of the governor's daughter, according to four people familiar with the questioning.The agents have been asking associates of the McDonnells about gifts provided to the family by Star Scientific chief executive Jonnie R. Williams Sr. and actions the Republican governor and his wife have taken that may have boosted the company, the people said.Among the topics being explored, they said, is the $15,000 catering bill that Williams paid for the 2011 wedding of McDonnell's daughter at Virginias historic Executive Mansion. But questions have extended to other, previously undisclosed gifts from Williams to Maureen McDonnell as well, they said.The interviews, at which Virginia State Police investigators were present, began in recent months as an outgrowth of a federal investigation into securities transactions involving Star Scientific, which produces a dietary supplement called Anatabloc. The company disclosed that probe in a regulatory filing last month, saying it had received subpoenas from the U.S. attorneys office for the Eastern District of Virginia.Now, federal officials are trying to determine whether to expand that investigation into a broader look at whether McDonnell or his administration took any action to benefit Star Scientific in exchange for monetary or other benefits, according to the four people familiar with the interviews. It is unclear whether the probe will be broadened.U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride declined to comment, as did spokespeople for the FBIs Richmond division and the state police.Tucker Martin, a spokesman for McDonnell, a possible 2016 presidential contender, said, "It is the policy of the governor's office to not comment on any possible investigations."Jerry Kilgore, an attorney for Williams, also declined to comment.McDonnell previously has said that he and his wife have known Williams for about five years, that they consider him a personal friend and that the first family's efforts on behalf of Virginia-based Star Scientific are typical of what any governor would do to promote the state's businesses and products.But the FBI interviews represent a potential escalation of the growing controversy about McDonnell and his wifes relationship with Williams, which has consumed the state capital in recent weeks.Williams and Star Scientific have given McDonnell and his political action committee more than $120,000 in publicly disclosed campaign donations and gifts, while the McDonnell family has received other benefits, such as a vacation at Williams's lake house in western Virginia.The McDonnells have taken actions to promote Star Scientific, including allowing the company to hold a 2011 luncheon marking the launch of Anatabloc at the governor's mansion.The focus of the FBI interviews has been to determine whether any of those actions constituted a quid pro quo - McDonnell using his office to promote the company in return for anything of value for him or his family - people familiar with the questioning said.Read more at link in title.Looks like Virginia is for crooks, not lovers.