McDonnell case: ‘Feds decide what constitutes quid pro quo’

[Originally published as a letter to the editor on July 25, 2015, in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.]

Editor.

Congratulations to Governor McAuliffe on closing the Hardywood Brewery deal with a pot full of grants and tax incentives. After the earlier Stone Brewery deal, the squeaky wheel finally got some ”grease.” Most observers, myself included, might reckon this to be a good thing.

But let’s not forget. Bob McDonnell, our former elected governor, is about to go to jail over “quid pro quo.” Jonnie Williams, the ignoble courtier and Anatabloc salesman, is walking free, a receiver of such “official acts” as rubbing a few shoulders, a photo-op, and a dinner.

Remind me … what is quid pro quo?

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The Washington Post published the transcript of a potentially explosive voicemail allegedly from Governor Terry McAuliffe’s Chief of Staff Paul Reagan that was left on then-State Senator Phil Puckett’s phone before his resignation from the state senate (see Transcript: Voicemail from McAuliffe’s chief of staff).

The voicemail, published Thursday night, includes this:

If there’s something that we can do for her [Puckett’s daughter], I mean, you know, we have a couple of big agencies here that we still need agency heads. We could potentially, potentially, subject to approval of the governor and so forth, you know, the department of mines, minerals and energy could be available. … We just need you really, we need you for the rest of your term and beyond, but in the immediate future, we need you to help us get this Medicaid deal through and I think we’ve got a way to do it. So anyway, please let’s keep all this confidential.

Quid pro quo: something for something.

Of course, if this proves to be true, the first question would be, “Who provided the voice mail? And why?”

Read the entire transcript here.

‘Court of public opinion’ swings to Bob McDonnell’s favor

By Lynn R. Mitchell

As the trial of former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and wife Maureen goes to the jury, my prayer is that the Governor is cleared of all charges and can try to resume and pick up the pieces of his life including his reputation.

Interestingly, as the weeks have dragged on with this trial, a number of Democratic friends have purposely sought me out to say they don’t think any quid pro quo was proven or that the governor did anything illegal, and they feel badly for him and his family because of all the sordid personal details that have been exposed.