McDonnell trial — Star Scientific stock was a dog
Star Scientific stock was an absolute dog. It had no marketable product, it was involved in litigation that could destroy it, it made no money and had no realistic prospects of making money any time soon. The McDonnells were cash-strapped. So why did they take the money that was loaned to them to help them get out of debt and buy Star Scientific stock instead?...
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McDonnell trial, Day 10 — who knew what when
Williams told Perito some time in 2012 that Maureen McDonnell wanted to be on the Board of Star Scientific, because it would enable her to get paid a director’s fee. Perito told Williams that “that was one of the worst ideas I’d ever heard,” because she had no qualifications for the position and it would be a conflict of interest....
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McDonnell trial — August 7
The evidence today made three points:
1. That the medical folks thought Anatabloc was worthless (a prosecution point);
2. That key aides in the McDonnell administration were appalled at Jonnie Williams and his relationship with Maureen McDonnell (a prosecution point); and
3. That Maureen McDonnell was a mental case (a defense point)....
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McDonnell trial — August 6
In Day 8 of the trial, the big name witness was Mary-Shea Sutherland, the Maureen McDonnell’s chief of staff for 16 months. Her testimony painted Maureen McDonnell as financially desperate, anxious to play in the big leagues socially, difficult to work with, and anxious to help Jonnie Williams....
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McDonnell Trial — August 5
If the government has to prove a quid pro quo, just what are they proving the government did for Star Scientific as a result of the supposed bribes? Today’s evidence proved both that McDonnell’s aides thought that Williams’ efforts to get publicity for Anatabloc were inappropriate, and that what the McDonnell administration actually did for Star Scientific was, well, not much at all....
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McDonnell Trial — August 4, 2014
Is it sexist or demeaning to women to portray Maureen McDonnell as a lonely wife with a work-a-holic husband who had a crush on a man who would take her shopping? Suppose that is actually true?...
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McDonnell Trial — possible sentences?
Sentencing Guidelines call for 8-10 years if they are convicted, but that’s more than an armed bank robber would be looking at, so I doubt that the judge would go that far… ...
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McDonnell Trial Notes — July 30, 2014
Yesterday was the soap opera, with dramatic statements of crushes and implications of an illicit relationship. Today was nowhere near as salacious. The prosecution ended the day with its star witness, Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams, testifying about his “purely business” relationship with the McDonnells....
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McDonnell Trial Notes — July 29, 2014
The McDonnell marriage was virtually broken by the time that McDonnell was elected Governor — too many hours, days, weeks spent chasing political office, not enough time making enough money. Then, Maureen met Jonnie Williams, who paid attention to her in ways that Bob didn’t. She developed what Burck called a “crush” on Jonnie, calling him “her favorite playmate.” You’ve probably all seen this on Days of Our Lives...
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