The Loop

Golf prominent in indictment of former governor McDonnell

January 21, 2014

Former Virginia governor Robert McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, were indicted in U.S. District Court Tuesday for illegally accepting a variety of gifts, many of them related to golf.

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Their benefactor, according to the indictment, was the former CEO of Star Scientific, a man identified in the indictment only as JW. Johnnie R. Williams is the former CEO of Virginia-based Star Scientific, a nutritional-supplement manufacturer. Its products include Anatabloc, with which Fred Couples has had an endorsement contract.

The word "golf" turns up 25 times in the indictment, which states that McDonnell accepted "$2,380 in greens fees, caddie fees, merchandise, and dining expenses at Kinloch Golf Club [in Manakin-Sabot, Va.]" on one occasion and "1,424 in greens fees, caddie fees, merchandise and dining expenses at Kinloch Golf Club" on another occasion.

Among the items subject to forfeiture should the couple be convicted, according to the indictment, include two pairs of golf shoes, six golf shirts, three golf bags and two sets of golf clubs.

They were charged with 14 felony counts, according to this Washington Post story.

(Getty Images photo)