AP
Former Virginia
Gov. Bob McDonnell
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s public corruption trial is winding down in federal court in Richmond. McDonnell testified in his own defense for more than four days. He wrapped up his time on the witness stand Tuesday by acknowledging using bad judgment but firmly denying criminal wrongdoing. McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, are charged with accepting more than $165,000 in gifts and loans from former Star Scientific Inc. CEO Jonnie Williams in exchange for promoting his company’s dietary supplements. The former governor’s lawyer told the judge that he has just one more witness to call Wednesday. Then Maureen McDonnell will present her case. Her attorney said that should take about three hours, leaving only closing arguments and instructions from the judge before the case goes to the jury.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ More Virginians are expected to travel this Labor Day weekend, reaching a new post-recession high for the state. AAA Mid-Atlantic says that the number of people taking a trip at least 50 miles away from home is anticipated to increase slightly this year. That’s more than 964,300 Virginians traveling during the Thursday through Monday holiday weekend. The majority of Virginians are expected to travel by car and gas prices have brought a welcome relief to motorists. Prices in Virginia are down about 4 percent per gallon compared with the same time last year. Motorists are being reminded to buckle up and drive sober and distraction-free while traveling for the upcoming holiday.
CHRISTIANBURG, Va. (AP) _ A former police officer in Montgomery County has been indicted on embezzlement charges. The Roanoke Times reports ex-Christiansburg officer Stephen Kilby was indicted on charges that he stole $34,000 from the Virginia Bloodhound Search and Rescue Association. Court records show Kilby was elected in June 2010 as treasurer of the association, which holds training seminars for law enforcement agencies and search-and-rescue units. According to search warrants, several unauthorized transactions were made between October 2010 and April 2014 with a debit card issued in Kilby’s name on the association’s account. Kilby was a Christiansburg officer from July 2005 until September 2013.
Former Virginia
Gov. Bob McDonnell
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell ended more than four days on the witness stand by emphatically denying all charges in his public corruption case. McDonnell acknowledged using poor judgment but responded with a firm “no” Tuesday when his lawyer asked if he risked his political future and his family by doing what he’s accused of in a 14-count indictment. McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, are charged with accepting more than $165,0 in gifts and loans from former Star Scientific Inc. CEO Jonnie Williams in exchange for promoting his company’s dietary supplements. Prosecutors vigorously cross-examined McDonnell about those issues.
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) _ The Catholic Diocese of Richmond is discouraging parishes and schools that participate in the ice bucket challenge from sending money to the ALS Association. WDBJ-TV reports that the diocese has sent a letter to 29 Catholic schools advising them to send donations to another organization that combats ALS. The diocese planned to send the letter Tuesday to 146 parishes. In the letter, the diocese says the ALS Association uses embryonic stem cells to conduct research on ALS. The Catholic Church relates the use of embryonic stem cells in research to abortion and says it violates the sanctity of human life. The Richmond diocese says it supports adult stem cell research. ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that causes paralysis and almost certain death. It’s also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe is ordering his agency heads to cut their budgets 5 percent this fiscal year and 7 percent next year to cope with an $880 million budget shortfall. McAuliffe’s chief of staff, Paul Reagan, sent to a memo to agency chiefs on Friday ordering them to come up with suggestions on what to cut. Reagan said suggested budget plans could include increasing fees for outside parties. The agency heads were directed to submit their proposed budget plans to the governor’s office by Sept. 19.
Former Virginia
Gov. Bob McDonnell
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Prosecutors are questioning former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell about his friendship with a Virginia businessman whose generosity is at the heart of the ex-governor’s corruption trial. McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, are charged with accepting more than $165,000 in gifts and loans from former Star Scientific Inc. CEO Jonnie Williams in exchange for promoting his company’s tobacco-based dietary supplement. Prosecutors allege that Williams was not so much a personal friend to McDonnell as he was a source of cash to the McDonnells, who carried large personal debts. In cross-examining McDonnell on Tuesday, they pointed out numerous documents and emails in which McDonnell routinely misspelled Williams’ first name. McDonnell has testified he came to see Williams as a friend, and that he provided nothing more than routine political courtesies to Williams.
Former Virginia
Gov. Bob McDonnell
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell faces more questions from a prosecutor when his public corruption trial resumes in federal court in Richmond. Tuesday will be the 22nd day of the trial and McDonnell’s fifth day on the witness stand. He and his wife, Maureen, are charged with accepting more than $165,000 in gifts and loans from former Star Scientific Inc. CEO Jonnie Williams in exchange for promoting his company’s dietary supplements. McDonnell has testified that he provided nothing more than routine political courtesies to Williams, who was seeking state-backed research for one of his products. The defense has also suggested that the McDonnells’ marriage was so broken that they barely spoke to each other, let alone joined in a gifts-for-favors conspiracy.
FORT LEE, Va. (AP) _ A soldier has died after barricading herself in an office and shooting herself inside a major command’s headquarters in Virginia. Fort Lee officials said the solider was pronounced dead Monday after being taken to Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. No other injuries were reported in the morning shooting. Officials say the soldier went on a rampage in the office, throwing objects. Fort Lee temporarily went on lockdown while she was barricaded in the headquarters for the Army’s Combined Arms Support Command. About 1,100 people were inside the building as law enforcement officials tried to negotiate with her. Officials said the soldier was a sergeant 1st class who’d been in the Army for 14 years and at Fort Lee for three. Officials say her gun wasn’t a service weapon.
Former Virginia
Gov. Bob McDonnell
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell is facing sharp questions from prosecutors about details of his personal finances at his public corruption trial. As the trial entered its fifth week, prosecutors began their cross-examination of McDonnell. He and his wife, Maureen, are charged with providing special favors to a wealthy businessman in exchange for more than $165,000 in gifts and loans. The pointed questions prompted long pauses and lengthy explanations from McDonnell, who was admonished by the judge to just “answer the question.” McDonnell disputed prosecutors’ assertion that his joint real-estate venture with his sister was in financial trouble. Prosecutors have said McDonnell’s financial desperation is what prompted him to accept money from former Star Scientific Inc. CEO Jonnie Williams. McDonnell says he considered Williams a friend.