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Robert Receives a RolexA trial date has been set for former Gov. Robert F. McDonnell and his wife Maureen for July 28, following a Friday arraignment at a Richmond federal courthouse. Both pleaded not guilty to all 14 charges. Federal authorities say the McDonnells repeatedly asked Johnnie Williams, a Richmond area businessman, for loans and gifts totaling more than $165,000. The 43-page indictment alleges the McDonnells asked for money, clothes, golf fees, equipment, numerous trips and private jet rides in exchange for access to political clout. Prosecutors allege that McDonnell helped promote Anatabloc, the company’s new product. The indictment states McDonnell pitched Anatabloc during an official meeting March 2012 with the secretary of administration in which they would discuss the state employee health plan. “(Robert McDonnell) pulled some Anatabloc out of his pocket,” the indictment states, “and told the secretary of administration and one of her staff members that Anatabloc had beneficial health effects, that he personally took Anatabloc and that it was working well for him.” The indictment states Maureen McDonnell traveled with Star Scientific in October 2011, speaking favorably of the product at corporate functions. The report states that under Virginia. law, certain state officials and employees—including the governor and members of his staff—are required to annually file a standardized disclosure statement of their personal economic interests on or before Jan. 15 each year. The indictment describes specific charges against Maureen, stating she intentionally avoided annual reporting requirements by transferring a total of 5,000 Star Scientific shares into newly opened brokerage accounts in the names of her five children. “(Maureen McDonnell) further informed the broker that these transfers had to occur before year-end in order to avoid reporting requirements related to the ownership of Star Scientific stock,” the report states. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
60 Opponents Show Up, City Council Clams Up In Richmond, over 60 protesters came out to City Hall to protest the plan to build a baseball stadium in Shockoe Bottom. Despite the rapidly dropping temperatures, participants stood at the corner of Broad and 9th Streets with their signs for 45 minutes before the City Council meeting started. The two related proposed ordinances, Mayor Jones' proposal and Parker Agelasto's Unesco historic site proposal were both moved from the night's agenda. The majority of the meeting attendees were actually there to oppose the baseball stadium issue. There were no attendees visibly in support of the stadium plan. Chuck Richardson, who used to be a City Council member, spoke during the public comments section. He urged Council members to use caution and ask lots of questions about the proposal. He compared it to the 6th Street Marketplace plan which was voted through when he was on Council, and which lost the City 200 million dollars. Richardson advised Council to not rush anything regarding the plan through. Parker Agelasto explained that his agenda item had been moved in order to give time for a meeting between the Slave Trail Commission and someone from the National Park Service. Parker's resolution asks that Byron Marshall, the Chief Administrative Officer pursue the designation of the hotly contested Shockoe Bottom Real Estate as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Site. The area in his resolution includes the African Burial Ground, Lumpkin's Jail, and the Slave Trail. UNESCO World Heritage Site designation is a long process for few prestigious spots. Attempting the receive such a designation would certainly eliminate the possibility of a Baseball Stadium being built there in the mean time. Despite being asked directly by myself, no explanation was given by President Charles Samuels or the rest of Council for the postponment of Mayor Jones' proposal. Both items have been moved to the February 24th Council Meeting. #RVA #Richmond #CityCouncil #ShockoeBottom #UNESCOWorldHeritageSite |
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