The man who would be king? (Or at least potential running mate to the man who almost became king) is going to prison and out of public life for good.
Former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen were found guilty today of 11 counts of corruption, fraud and bribery. The convictions for selling their authority for personal gain came after they accepted more than $165,000 in gifts and loans from businessman Jonnie Williams, who was intent on using the Governor’s influence to promote his company’s health supplement Anatabloc, currently taken off the market so the company can resolve issues with the FDA. The product is not FDA approved .
The McDonnell’s’ defense centered around the argument that their marriage was so alienated and dysfunctional that there was no way they could have entered into this conspiracy. In addition, the defense argued that in spite of considerable personal debt, the Mcdonnell’s’ didn’t need Williams’ money. Needless to say, the jury didn’t buy these arguments and found them guilty on all 11 counts. These convictions come with a possible sentence of 20 years in prison.
This is a very harsh fall from grace for the former Virginia Governor, who was once considered a rising start in the Republican Party and a possible running mate for Mitt Romney, Republican nominee for president. McDonnell is part of an “elite” group of Governors currently under investigation and/or indictment. This list includes: Texas Republican Governor Rick Perry, Illinois Democratic Governor Pat Quinn, New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie, and Wisconsin Republican Governor Scott Walker. (And that is a limited list not including candidates for office and other office holders from both parties.)
There has long been a revolving door between public servants and corporate America. Regulators ending up working for the industry they are regulating or coming to public office from said industry. In addition Representatives often end up as lobbyists for the industry they were regulating and overseeing as public servants.
The big question is whether the McDonnell judgment and long prison term (assuming, as most legal expert do, the appeal will fail), will have a chilling effect on Politicians in office now and/or on those seeking office currently or in future? Will they forgo the gifts and favors they are being offered by businesses to make sure they don’t end up as Bob and Maureen McDonnell did, humiliated, career and family in shambles, facing long prison sentences and a dim future after?
On a human and personal level one has to wonder if all this destruction and tragedy was worth $165,000, or any amount?
What do you Think?
Photo: DonkeyHotey /Flicker Photo2: vatourismpr /Flicker