Esquire: This Is What an Absolutely Corrupt Governor Looks Like

[Botany]

Bob McDonnell was the Governor of Virginia until federal prosecutors alleged he and his wife were effectively bought and sold and bought again by a massive pharmaceutical corporation trying to peddle a dietary supplement.

snip

In return, Maureen would give public speeches for Star Scientific in places like Michigan and Florida and pressure the Virginia Tobacco Commission to push research funding into anatabine, a tobacco-derived substance, that was a key ingredient in Star Scientific’s new diet pill Anatabine.

Instead, the First Couple of Virginia got found out shortly after trying finagle 50,000 Star Scientific shares in another under-the-table deal. Below, we’ve listed every kickback the couple received, as listed in the Governor’s Federal Corruption Indictment that was released today. But first, here’s what corruption looks like in one image.

PRIVATE JETS

SHOPPING TRIPS

LOANS (ALSO “LOANS”)

WEDDING GIFTS

GOLF

STOCK MARKET
.
36 HOURS IN A VACATION HOME

A REALLY EXPENSIVE WATCH

A REALLY NICE DINNER

HOME IMPROVEMENT


Read more: A Governor Working for a Corporation on an “As Needed Basis” - Esquire


http://www.esquire.com/blogs/news/governor-virginia-corruption

[bettyellen]

1. he and his wife should be jailed. how do you directly solicit bribes and claim they were gifts?

[awoke_in_2003]

11. Ask 90% of congress...

[Buns_of_Fire]

2. I DO hope he receives an ultrasound body cavity search while he's being booked.

I don't even know if such a thing exists, but it would be deliciously poetic.

[monmouth3]

3. Was he raised in Jersey?...

[SoCalDem]

4. If they emerge as free persons, I predict a divorce

It sounds to me as if she was the driving force behind the spending sprees.

[kcr]

5. I'd be willing to bet the rolexes, private jets and power golfing contributed quite a bit

I'm inclined to believe the two are a matched pair.

[FSogol]

8. He's just as corrupt, the whole "it is just his wife's fault" meme came from the state GOP trying to

excuse his behavior.

GOP = Corrupt. GOP Voters = Accomplices.

[SoCalDem]

9. I have no doubt that he went along too, but she wrote emails

and seemed to be enjoying the whole sugar daddy thing a LOT.. I cannot think of many designers who would not have gladly loaned her clothing to wear..but she wanted to keep the clothes.. I hope she looks good in orange

[FSogol]

10. Ever hear the story of her official portrait as first lady of VA?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-first-lady-maureen-mcdonnell-cinderella-ineptly-trying-to-fit-in-at-the-castle/2013/07/22/137c60da-f2e5-11e2-bdae-0d1f78989e8a_story.html

[freshwest]

20. Typical Cow of Bashan living it up while her husband screws the poor.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/maureen-mcdonnell-through-the-years/2013/06/30/317cf610-e0ea-11e2-8ae9-5db15d3c0fca_gallery.html#photo=7

[Blue_Tires]

6. kick for truth

[FSogol]

7. WOOT, Loving all the McDonnell threads. Long overdue. Hope they catch Cuccinelli too.

[DeSwiss]

12. Here ya go, it makes for thrilling reading:

All 43 pages of the indictment.

- K&R

[barbtries]

13. i thought it was going to be a picture of Christie

but i guess that'll be coming down the road.

[hog]

14. Answered prayers.

I'm sure the Reagent University educated governor and his wife decided that the answer to their financial problems could be cured with prayer. They prayed for relief and, as is typical with true believers, justified their crimes as being sanctioned by their god.

[TeamPooka]

15. Those two made their freaking kids stand next to them yesterday while they denied the charges.

fucking scumbags dragging their kids as political props for their criminal misdeeds.
It's one thing to drag your wife up there while you "explain about that hooker" but this is too much.

[underpants]

16. Firing that chef was a REALLY bad idea huh Bob?

[Dustlawyer]

18. I watched Alan Greenspan's wife on MSNBC interview Mark Halpern and how they proceeded to

say that he was guilty only of greed, not a violation worse than a misdemeanor for not reporting the gifts (bribes)! They blamed the press and the provocative nature of the spending/gifts for the likely conviction. Somehow they never mentioned that the Gov., set up research for this quack pill and use his influence to sell the damn things.
I get tired of Republicans saying that MSNBC is as one sided as Fox. Between Morning Joe and his group of heartless bastards, Andrea Mitchell (Greenspan's wife) and Alex Witt(less) you have a group that could transfer to Fox anyday.

[Cha]

19. Esquire will be doing such

an expose on Christie someday..

[freshwest]

21. Never heard of Star Scientific. Did an google and found this page:

http://www.google.com/finance?cid=662389

The numbers don't look good, but I never followed NASDAQ, ever. Does this mean it's now a junk stock?

[infoviro]

24. They pulled a Blackwater and changed their name recently

I don't know what they are called now.

[onenote]

28. They're still called Star Scientific for now; and they've never been a "massive" company.

At the end of the year, the shareholders voted to change the company's name to Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, which is the name of the wholly-owned subsidiary that has been making the dietary supplements and anti-inflammatory products that are the center of the company's business. It is likely that the name change will take place before the start of the second quarter, but it hasn't been implemented yet.

BTW, its pretty silly of Esquire to describe Star Scientific as a "massive" pharmaceutical company. It actually would be more accurately described as a struggling two-bit company that figured it could get bigger by buying a governor and his wife.

There are probably a dozen pharmaceutical companies with revenues and market caps in the tens or even hundreds of billions of dollars (companies like Pfizer, Roche, etc.). Star Scientific has a market cap of $150 million (with an "m&quot and revenues that dropped from $20 million to under $7 million in the past year.

Finally, the stock price fell below $1.00 around January 16. If it stays below $1.00 for 30 consecutive days, it could face delisting.

[freshwest]

33. So typical. Like Freedom Industries in WV will become Pure Industries, likely. Thanks. n/t

[HipChick]

22. Was he sleeping with Gov's wife?...

He didn't seem like he got much in return for his investment?

Was Gov Bob caught in the middle?

[MyOwnPeace]

23. Did you see..........

the Daily Show on Wednesday night?
Jon had film clips of the Governor calling for "fiscal responsibility" and that the "government should handle its money just like private individuals do!"

Amazing how many of these "elected officials" can blather with such hypocrisy!

[CFLDem]

25. How do I get a ticket to this gravy train ???

[lpbk2713]

26. The easy way to identify a corrupt governor ...

Just look for the (R) at the end of their name.

[CFLDem]

27. Or in the case of Illinois

s/he's the governor

[hughee99]

30. The easiest way to identify a corrupt governor is the title Gov. at the front of their name. n/t

[librechik]

29. let's see--how many of our current/former elected (D)reps are married to lobbyists or CEOs?

I can think of several off the top of my head including Daschle, Feinstein and Clinton, to be honest. It's part of the lifestyle.

[Orsino]

31. For "absolute" corruption, this picture is pretty banal.

But perhaps the purest and most beautiful corruption always is?

[fadedrose]

32. No. 1 on my reasons for tiring of politics

Just hate these greedy politicians. Not bad enough when they cheat on their wives besides, this is especially disgusting when the wife is asking for designer gowns and bags.

Like power isn't enough, or a good salary, or respect.

Throw 'em both in jail.

[malaise]

34. The worst part of this is that they do not think they were corrupt

Can't wait to see if ReTHUGs defend these scumbags.