One day after Gov. Bob McDonnell announced that all scandal-initiating loans from donor Jonnie Williams have been repaid and apologized to the people he serves, the governor's staff today announced McDonnell left the state late Monday to visit service members in Afghanistan and Kuwait.
McDonnell departed for the Middle East late Monday night. He is joined by Montana Governor Steve Bullock, a Democrat, on the Defense Department-organized trip. The men arrived Tuesday afternoon at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and then traveled to Udairi Army Air Field, where McDonnell toured the facility and held a town hall with constituents from Virginia, according to his office.
?For security reasons, details of the governor?s trip were not publicly disclosed in advance,? states a press release.
McDonnell left for the Afghanistan leg of his trip Wednesday and is scheduled to return to the commonwealth Friday.
On Tuesday, McDonnell announced that more than $120,000 in loans from Williams, the CEO of supplement manufacturer Star Scientific, to the governor, his wife and a family business have been repaid in full. The repayments came from the governor, the family business itself or his family, according to McDonnell.
The McDonnell-Williams relationship has swamped regional headlines the past four months, led by reporting in the Washington Post, which first disclosed the cozy financial dealings between Williams and the McDonnell family.
Both Gov. McDonnell and his wife Maureen have advocated for one of Star Scientific's key products.
?Being Governor of Virginia is the highest honor of my 37 years of public service. I'm deeply sorry for the embarrassment certain members of my family and I brought upon my beloved Virginia and her citizens,? McDonnell said in a prepared statement. ?I want you to know that I broke no laws and that I am committed to regaining your sacred trust and confidence. I hope today's action is another step toward that end.?
Larry Sabato, a political scientist and director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, called the overseas trip a good public relations move, but not something that will make the scandal that has scarred the once-popular governor disappear.
?It makes sense for a Virginia governor to undertake the trip. But it doesn?t have any effect on his scandal,? Sabato said. ?Sooner or later McDonnell is going to have to face the press at a full-blown news conference and answer the obvious questions he has avoided. Nor will the trip affect either the grand jury or the Cuccinelli-McAuliffe campaign.?
?As a public relations exercise, it may pay some dividends. As a solution to McDonnell?s gift woes, not a chance,? Sabato added.
McDonnell, speaking of his trip, which also included a visit Monday to Walter Reed National Medical Center in Maryland, said he ?was so incredibly humbled and inspired by the brave men and women [he] had the opportunity to meet at Walter Reed.?
?Visiting these soldiers prior to departing for the Middle East was a poignant reminder that every day someone?s mother, father, brother, sister, husband or wife is voluntarily protecting us overseas to ensure our safety and freedom back here at home. For that, we are eternally grateful,? McDonnell said.
Contact the writer at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Source: http://www.loudountimes.com/news/article/mcdonnell_issued_apology_while_visiting_troops_overseas543
mega millions winner holy thursday chris stewart evo 4g lte marlins new stadium arnold palmer augusta national
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.