The last witness today for the prosecutors was VA businessman, CEO Jonnie Williams - he testified Maureen McDonnell asked him to meet with her at the Executive Mansion on May 2, 2011. The visitor's log shows he arrived at 9:24pm and left at 11:25pm.
Questioned by an assistant U.S. attorney, Williams said he met with the first lady alone. "Maureen was explaining to me her and governor's financial situation, that they were in financial trouble".
He said she told him they had considered filing for bankruptcy and their credit cards were close to being maxed out. "She became very emotional at this point adding, I sat there and listened".
She told him she had a background in nutrition and said she could be helpful to Williams, but he would have to help her. She asked for $15,000 to help pay for their daughter's wedding and for a $50,000 loan. "I said, OK I'll do it but I have to speak with your husband first". "She asked why and I explained because he's the bread winner in the house and I'm not writing his wife a check without him knowing about it".
Williams said as governor McDonnell was in a position to help him secure state-sponsored research of his product.
Williams told the prosecutor that he did not consider his relationship with Maureen McDonnell to be a friendship, "this was a business relationship".
