Maureen McDonnell, the former first lady of Virginia and her husband Bob McDonnell faced a judge on Friday in federal court after an indictment accused them of misbehavior. They deny any wrongdoing. INSIDE EDITION explains.
Is Maureen McDonnell the good wife gone bad?
The political wives who became famous in the Anthony Weiner and Eliot Spitzer scandals were left humiliated and embarrassed. The wife of the former Governor of New York even inspired the hit TV show, The Good Wife. But this latest scandal may be The Good Wife in reverse.
Bob McDonnell, the handsome ex-Governor of Virginia, has been brought down by his wife Maureen’s alleged misbehavior.
The McDonnell’s were arraigned in federal court on Friday in Richmond, Virginia. A 14-count indictment accuses Maureen of going on a shopping spree on New York’s posh Fifth Avenue and buying gowns at Oscar de la Renta worth $11,000, shoes and purses at Louis Vuitton for $6,000, and $3,000 worth of jewelry and clothes at the ritzy department store Bergdorf Goodman.
So what's the big deal? Well, according to the FBI, all the high-end clothes were paid for by a wealthy donor in return for access and political favors.
Maureen is also accused of accepting a $15,000 check from the donor, businessman Jonnie Williams, to cater her daughter Caitlin’s 2011 wedding.
MSNBC’s Karen Finney told INSIDE EDITION, “Clearly, she had a vision in her mind of what they should look like, how they should present themselves. But, they were clearly living beyond their means.”
The FBI says Maureen, an ex-Washington Redskins cheerleader, even got the businessman to pay for a $5,000 Rolex watch for her husband, which she inscribed "71st Governor of Virginia."
Finney said, “The donor even said 'Do you think he'd be comfortable wearing something of luxury like that since he's a government official?' She said ‘No.' She thought it would be totally appropriate.”
The McDonnell’s deny any wrongdoing.
Bob said in a press conference, “I did nothing illegal for Mr. Williams in exchange for what I believe was his friendship and generosity.”
Now, the man once considered a potential Republican presidential candidate is facing the ruin of a brilliant career, all, apparently because his good wife had a taste for the good life.
Businessman Jonnie Williams was not charged.
