Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) denied Wednesday that he would resign amid an ethics scandal, but did not answer directly whether he would repay gifts from a top donor, one day after announcing all loans from the donor had been repaid.
"I'm not going anywhere. I love this job ... there has been no consideration of that," he told NBC Washington from Kabul, Afghanistan, where he is visiting troops.
McDonnell, who is term-limited, is under investigation by the FBI and a grand jury over his connections to Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams. Star Scientific makes a nutritional supplement.
McDonnell, in a statement, apologized Tuesday and said that $124,000 in loans had been repaid to Williams. He said that he broke no laws. The Washington Post reported that Williams gave $70,000 to McDonnell's wife and to a company owned by McDonnell and his sister. Under state law, loans to public officials must be disclosed, but those to corporations are not required to be reported.
The statement did not address the multitude of gifts given to the McDonnell family by Williams, including a $15,000 shopping spree for the governor's wife in New York City, thousands of dollars towards his daughters' weddings and a $6,500 Rolex watch for McDonnell. Gifts to public officials over $50 must be disclosed and may be unlimited in value; however, gifts to family members are not covered under state law.
"I've said a lot about that already. There will be plenty more to say," he told NBC Washington, when asked whether he would repay the gifts.
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