Thursday, August 01, 2013

Cuccinelli Will Not Return $18,000 in Gifts (Bribes?)

While Bob McDonnell is trying to save his ass by returning lavish gifts - some now being euphemistically called "loans" - the ever despicable Ken Cuccinelli has announced that he will not follow suit and reimburse Jonnie R. Williams, Sr., for the $18,000 in bribes gifts Cuccinelli recieved.  His reasoning?  Since the gifts were in the form of cash or tangible items like Rolex watches, they can't be returned.   Somehow he misses the point that he received what I am sure Williams viewed as payments for future political favors.  But then again, Cuccinelli always sees himself as exempt from the laws and rules that apply to others.   Here are highlights from a Washington Post article on Cuccinelli's bullshit position:

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli says he’s glad Gov. Bob McDonnell is returning all the gifts he received from a major political donor. But he has no plans to repay the more than $18,000 in gifts he received from the same benefactor.

Cuccinelli told reporters Wednesday that Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams didn’t give him the kind of gifts that can be returned. Among the gifts from Williams listed in Cuccinelli’s financial disclosure statements are a $1,500 catered Thanksgiving dinner, private jet trips and vacation lodging. Cuccinelli said, “There are some bells you can’t unring.”

The Republican candidate for governor made the remarks the day after McDonnell announced he and his family are returning all their gifts and repaying $125,000 in business and personal loans from Williams.

Cuccinelli misses the point that he could write a check to Williams to make things right.  But then again, Cuccinelli is all about money as demonstrated by his refusal to resign from office.  He wants taxpayers to underwrite his political campaign.  Perhaps he should have thought through the cost of having all the children he fathered trying to convince himself that he's not gay.

No comments: