New documents raise more questions about financing of McDonnell’s daughter’s wedding
Source: Washington Post
By Rosalind S. Helderman, Apr 10, 2013 01:37 AM EDT
The Washington Post Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell has said his daughter and her husband paid for their own wedding. So a $15,000 check from a major campaign donor to pay for the food at the affair was a gift to the bride and groom and not to him and therefore did not have to be publicly disclosed under the law, the governor says.
But documents obtained by The Washington Post show that McDonnell signed the catering contract, making him financially responsible for the 2011 event. The governor made handwritten notes to the caterer in the margins. In addition, the governor paid nearly $8,000 in deposits for the catering.
....
The question of who was responsible for paying the catering bill is a key one because Virginia law requires that elected officials publicly report gifts of more than $50. But the law does not require the disclosure of gifts to the officials family members.
....
The gift came from Jonnie R. Williams Sr., chief executive of Star Scientific Inc., a company near Richmond that makes dietary supplements. Three days before the wedding, the governors wife, Maureen, flew to Florida to speak about the companys new product, an anti-inflammatory made from a chemical found in tobacco. Shortly after the wedding, the governor and his wife hosted a luncheon at the Executive Mansion marking the launch of Stars latest product.
Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/va-politics/mcdonnell-signed-contract-for-wedding-food-later-paid-by-donor/2013/04/09/9ec9f85c-a05e-11e2-9c03-6952ff305f35_story.html
Also:
Report: McDonnell helped finance daughters wedding, despite claims donors gift wasnt to him
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/report-mcdonnell-helped-finance-daughters-wedding-despite-claims-donors-gift-wasnt-to-him/2013/04/09/345ba59a-a164-11e2-bd52-614156372695_story.html
TheOther95Percent
(1,035 posts)I mean when we go to weddings we always cut a check to the caterer, right? Isn't that jist good ol' fashioned weddin' manners? Why the caterer's the one with the vittles. Why shouldn't the caterer get the check?
Baitball Blogger
(46,684 posts)God, I do. So many ways to do it, that it makes it a perfect laundry system.
MADem
(135,425 posts)When no one could get a decent rate, he was getting uber-preferred rates! It was obscene.
And he was most certainly not the only one, not by a long shot....
beac
(9,992 posts)Poor widdle Bob... thought he'd be Veep, instead he'll always be the trans-vaginal wedding freebie creep.
erronis
(15,185 posts)Stuck up his little weenie to see if he is pregnant (it does happen - really!).
TheOther95Percent
(1,035 posts)he is screwed too. I suspect the check was made out to the caterer so that the CEO could deduct it from his or the company's taxes as a "business expense." Idiot wanted a tax deductible bribe.
PA Democrat
(13,225 posts)how is it a gift to the daughter and son-in-law? What a bunch of crooks.
treestar
(82,383 posts)Maybe gifts to family members should be included. Immediate family at least. Then again, we would need a Congress that would make that amendment.
barbtries
(28,770 posts)ergo, it was a gift to him and not to her. bring him up on charges!
these people and their family values. yuck.
kairos12
(12,843 posts)Exultant Democracy
(6,594 posts)I'm gonna turn my outrage meter to 11 on this one, because it is oh so important.
Javaman
(62,504 posts)I wonder what decals the bride and groom will wear on their clothing?
Plucketeer
(12,882 posts)Setting an example for asspiring "public servants" everywhere.
Response to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)
Blue Owl This message was self-deleted by its author.
joesdaughter
(243 posts)I would like to have Jonnie's address to add to my guest list for future family occasions.