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'''Robert F. "Bob" McDonnell''' (born June 15, 1954) was the 71st Governor of [[Virginia]], having won the 2009 election by a 59%-41% landslide. McDonnell's Democratic opponent was state Senator [[Creigh Deeds]], whom he defeated in 2005 for attorney general. He had consistently led Deeds in the polls by wide margins.<ref>http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=9db323a1-0c9c-4a39-887c-c504bc80fb06</ref><ref>http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2009/virginia/toplines/toplines_virginia_governor_election_september_29_2009/</ref><ref>http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=10fe2317-36a6-4429-86ce-1d154fb33c58%26c=18/</ref><ref>http://www.wvec.com/news/topstories/stories/wvec_local_101909_gov._selection_poll.231bdeef9.html</ref> Previously McDonnell served as a [[Lieutenant Colonel]] in the [[United States Army]], and a U.S. prosecutor. He was state [[Attorney General]] from 2006-2009, before resigning to focus full time on his gubernatorial campaign.

'''Robert F. "Bob" McDonnell''' (born June 15, 1954) was the 71st Governor of [[Virginia]], having won the 2009 election by a 59%-41% landslide. McDonnell's Democratic opponent was state Senator [[Creigh Deeds]], whom he defeated in 2005 for attorney general. He had consistently led Deeds in the polls by wide margins.<ref>http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=9db323a1-0c9c-4a39-887c-c504bc80fb06</ref><ref>http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2009/virginia/toplines/toplines_virginia_governor_election_september_29_2009/</ref><ref>http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=10fe2317-36a6-4429-86ce-1d154fb33c58%26c=18/</ref><ref>http://www.wvec.com/news/topstories/stories/wvec_local_101909_gov._selection_poll.231bdeef9.html</ref> Previously McDonnell served as a [[Lieutenant Colonel]] in the [[United States Army]], and a U.S. prosecutor. He was state [[Attorney General]] from 2006-2009, before resigning to focus full-time on his gubernatorial campaign.

==Career==

==Career==

When the Virginia House of Delegates had passed a bill to make a transvaginal ultrasound a prerequisite for having an abortion in Virginia, McDonnell watered down the final law to remove that particular requirement.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/02/22/virginia_gov_bob_mcdonnell_changes_his_mind_about_ultrasound_law.html|work=Slate|date=February 22, 2012|title=Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell Backs off the Invasive Ultrasound Law|accessdate=August 16, 2013}}</ref>

When the Virginia House of Delegates had passed a bill to make a transvaginal ultrasound a prerequisite for having an abortion in Virginia, McDonnell watered down the final law to remove that particular requirement.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/02/22/virginia_gov_bob_mcdonnell_changes_his_mind_about_ultrasound_law.html|work=Slate|date=February 22, 2012|title=Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell Backs off the Invasive Ultrasound Law|accessdate=August 16, 2013}}</ref>

McDonnell accepted a $5,000 campaign donation from "Bobby Thompson" who was head of the United States Navy Veterans Association (USNVA), a organization who had been refused registration to allow it to solicit charitable contributions in Virginia.  USNVA's lobbyists then got the General Assembly to pass a bill that would exempt such veterans groups from the regulations applicable to all other charities.  While the law was awaiting Gov. McDonnell's signature, the ''St. Petersburg Times'' ran a series of investigative stories on how the USNVA was a fraud.  The sponsor of the bill in the State Senate asked McDonnell to veto the bill, but he signed it anyway.  Later his campaign donated the $5,000 to a real veterans' charity.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2010/05/mcdonnell-give-away-5k-navy-vets-charity|last=Sluss|first=Michael|date=18 May 2010|title=McDonnell to give away $5K from Navy vets charity|work=Roanoke Times|accessdate=September 5, 2014}}</ref> Thompson was later convicted of fraud and identity theft in Ohio in conjunction with his nation-wide scam.<ref name=tampa>{{cite web|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/nonprofit-under-investigation-wins-registration-exemption-in-virginia/1096783|title=Nonprofit under investigation wins registration exemption in Virginia|work=tampabay.com|date=22 May 2010|accessdate=September 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.roanoke.com/247014|title=Fla. contributor to Va. campaigns raises questions|work=Roanoke Times|date=16 May 2010|authors=Dan Casey and Michael Sluss}}</ref>

McDonnell accepted a $5,000 campaign donation from "Bobby Thompson" who was head of the United States Navy Veterans Association (USNVA), a organization who had been refused registration to allow it to solicit charitable contributions in Virginia.  USNVA's lobbyists then got the General Assembly to pass a bill that would exempt such veterans groups from the regulations applicable to all other charities.  While the law was awaiting Gov. McDonnell's signature, the ''St. Petersburg Times'' ran a series of investigative stories on how the USNVA was a fraud.  The sponsor of the bill in the State Senate asked McDonnell to veto the bill, but he signed it anyway.  Later his campaign donated the $5,000 to a real veterans' charity.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2010/05/mcdonnell-give-away-5k-navy-vets-charity|last=Sluss|first=Michael|date=18 May 2010|title=McDonnell to give away $5K from Navy vets charity|work=Roanoke Times|accessdate=September 5, 2014}}</ref> Thompson was later convicted of fraud and identity theft in Ohio in conjunction with his nationwide scam.<ref name=tampa>{{cite web|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/nonprofit-under-investigation-wins-registration-exemption-in-virginia/1096783|title=Nonprofit under investigation wins registration exemption in Virginia|work=tampabay.com|date=22 May 2010|accessdate=September 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.roanoke.com/247014|title=Fla. contributor to Va. campaigns raises questions|work=Roanoke Times|date=16 May 2010|authors=Dan Casey and Michael Sluss}}</ref>

At the time McDonnell was elected Governor, he faced financial pressures because he had invested in rental properties at the peak of property values which began a sharp decline in 2008.  He then sought a series of personal loans. One loan came from a friend to whom he offered an appointment to a regulatory board.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lender was offered Va. post|first=Rosalind|last=Helderman|work=Washington Post|date=August 9, 2013|page=B1}}</ref> He also received loans and various gifts from Jonnie R. Williams, the CEO of a company which produces a dietary suppliment.  These included a $6,500 Rolex watch, $15,000 for catering the wedding of McDonnell's daughter and a $10,000 engagement gift to McDonnell's other daughter.  Mrs. McDonnell purchased $15,000 worth of clothing on a New York city shopping spree paid for by Mr. Williams.  Mrs. McDonnell made public appearances on behalf of the product, and the Governor hosted an event at the Governor's Mansion to promote the product.  McDonnell claims that all of his actions were legal, and has returned the gifts and repaid the loans.<ref>{{cite news|title=McDonnell: All 'tangible' gifts returned to supporter|work=Washington Post|first=Rosalind|last=Helderman|date=August 14, 2013|page=B1}}</ref>  [[Ken Cuccinelli]], the current Republican candidate for Governor, asked McDonnell to call a special session to strengthen Virginia's ethic laws, but McDonnell declined.

At the time McDonnell was elected Governor, he faced financial pressures because he had invested in rental properties at the peak of property values which began a sharp decline in 2008.  He then sought a series of personal loans. One loan came from a friend to whom he offered an appointment to a regulatory board.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lender was offered Va. post|first=Rosalind|last=Helderman|work=Washington Post|date=August 9, 2013|page=B1}}</ref> He also received loans and various gifts from Jonnie R. Williams, the CEO of a company which produces a dietary supplement.  These included a $6,500 Rolex watch, $15,000 for catering the wedding of McDonnell's daughter and a $10,000 engagement gift to McDonnell's other daughter.  Mrs. McDonnell purchased $15,000 worth of clothing on a New York city shopping spree paid for by Mr. Williams.  Mrs. McDonnell made public appearances on behalf of the product, and the Governor hosted an event at the Governor's Mansion to promote the product.  McDonnell claims that all of his actions were legal, and has returned the gifts and repaid the loans.<ref>{{cite news|title=McDonnell: All 'tangible' gifts returned to supporter|work=Washington Post|first=Rosalind|last=Helderman|date=August 14, 2013|page=B1}}</ref>  [[Ken Cuccinelli]], the current Republican candidate for Governor, asked McDonnell to call a special session to strengthen Virginia's ethic laws, but McDonnell declined.

Eleven days after leaving office, McDonnell and his wife were indicted by a federal grand jury in conjunction with their relationship with Williams.<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Dell|first=Larry|title=Former Va. Gov. Bob McDonnell, Wife Indicted|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/va-gov-bob-mcdonnell-wife-indicted-21614637|date=January 21, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Helderman|first=Rosalind|title=Former Va. Gov. McDonnell and wife charged in gifts case|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/former-va-gov-mcdonnell-and-wife-charged-in-gifts-case/2014/01/21/1ed704d2-82cb-11e3-9dd4-e7278db80d86_story.html|date=January 21, 2014}}</ref> The trial of McDonnell and his wife began on July 28. 2014. The indictment alleged that McDonnell’s actions on behalf of Williams deprived the public of his honest services under the wire fraud statute.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/virginia-politics/trial-comes-down-to-bob-mcdonnell-s-conduct/article_c2993242-02ae-5139-9cf0-b92fe7a02bbe.html|title=

Eleven days after leaving office, McDonnell and his wife were indicted by a federal grand jury in conjunction with their relationship with Williams.<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Dell|first=Larry|title=Former Va. Gov. Bob McDonnell, Wife Indicted|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/va-gov-bob-mcdonnell-wife-indicted-21614637|date=January 21, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Helderman|first=Rosalind|title=Former Va. Gov. McDonnell and wife charged in gifts case|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/former-va-gov-mcdonnell-and-wife-charged-in-gifts-case/2014/01/21/1ed704d2-82cb-11e3-9dd4-e7278db80d86_story.html|date=January 21, 2014}}</ref> The trial of McDonnell and his wife began on July 28. 2014. The indictment alleged that McDonnell’s actions on behalf of Williams deprived the public of his honest services under the wire fraud statute.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/virginia-politics/trial-comes-down-to-bob-mcdonnell-s-conduct/article_c2993242-02ae-5139-9cf0-b92fe7a02bbe.html|title=