RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – A former CEO testified Thursday that his cozy relationship with Virginia’s first family was a poor business decision, not friendship.
The government’s star witness in the corruption trial against former Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, testified that he showered the family with gifts requested by the former first lady. But businessman Jonnie Williams said he shouldn’t have had to buy things such as an expensive Rolex to get the help he needed for his company, Star Scientific Inc.
“It was a bad decision on my part to buy that watch when she asked for it,” Williams said. “I shouldn’t have had to buy things like that to get the help I needed.”
Williams said he thought it was wrong to buy the watch while he was seeking government support for his dietary supplements company’s signature product, and he didn’t want people to know. He testified that he wanted keep that and other gifts and loans secret, and the governor agreed it was a good idea.
The watch was passed to the jury, where each juror briefly inspected it. Williams said he bought the watch at a California jewelry store for between $6,000 and $7,000.