News
Former Virginia
Gov. Bob McDonnell
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Finance reports show former Gov. Bob McDonnell’s legal defense fund raised about $20,000 during the last quarter of 2016.Supporters created the fund in 2013 for McDonnell, who was convicted of public corruption but had his sentence overturned by a unanimous Supreme Court in June.The reports collected by the Virginia Public Access Project, a nonpartisan money-in-politics tracker, also show around $36,000 of expenses during last year’s fourth quarter. The majority of that went to legal, accounting and banking fees, and $10,000 went to the IRS for a late filing fee, according to the filings.The fund reported $554,010 cash on hand as of the end of 2016.McDonnell has since rejoined a Virginia Beach law firm and is teaching at Regents University.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ A bill that would cut off funding for Planned Parenthood clinics in Virginia is advancing in the General Assembly, despite facing a likely veto from the governor. A Senate committee voted Thursday to send the bill from Republican Del. Ben Cline to the full chamber. It has already passed the House of Delegates. Cline’s bill would cut off federal Title X funding to abortion providers and redirect it to other health clinics. He says it’s meant to prioritize organizations that provide the “most comprehensive” services. Planned Parenthood performs abortions as well as other services such as cancer screenings. Opponents say the bill will limit women’s access to health care. Cline introduced the same measure last year. Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe vetoed it and almost certainly would do so again.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) – Attorneys for Rolling Stone magazine are heading back to federal court to try to overturn a jury’s defamation verdict over its botched story “A Rape on Campus.”A judge is holding a hearing in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Thursday to consider Rolling Stone’s request to throw out the jury’s November verdict. The jury awarded University of Virginia administrator Nicole Eramo $3 million after finding Rolling Stone and a reporter defamed her.The 2014 story told the account of a woman identified only as “Jackie,” who said she was gang raped at the school. A police investigation found no evidence to back up Jackie’s claims.The magazine argues, among other things, there’s no evidence reporter Sabrina Rubin Erdely acted with actual malice. Eramo’s attorneys are urging the judge to keep the verdict.
Tom Perriello
Two proposed natural gas pipelines may be turning into a hot-button issue in this year’s campaign for governor. Democratic candidate Tom Perriello has announced his opposition to both, breaking with the current governor of his own party. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more.
(Continue to see the full Perriello video statement and to read the full Atlantic Coast Pipeline response.)
