The worst allegation against ex-Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell

Graft, fraud, and insider dealing? Yawn. But using state employees to test out a new drug is another thing entirely.

McDonnell
(Image credit: (Alex Wong/Getty Images))

On Tuesday evening, federal prosecutors released a 14-count criminal indictment against former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen. The couple is accused of soliciting or accepting about $135,000 in cash and no-document loans plus tens of thousands of dollars worth of other gifts from Jonnie Williams, the chief executive of dietary supplement maker Star Scientific, in return for promoting the company's products.

On Tuesday night, McDonnell appeared before reporters to deny all wrongdoing, saying he was being "falsely and wrongly accused" by prosecutors who had "stretched the law to its breaking point." He didn't take any questions. But the fraud and graft allegations have already taken a toll: McDonnell, once a rising GOP star, spent the final six months of his term under a dark cloud, and Williams has stepped down from Star. (The Washington Post has a useful timeline of the scandal.)

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.