Virginia AG's late disclosure of free vacations and stock did not violate law, review finds
Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has been cleared of wrongdoing by a Richmond prosecutor who looked into Cuccinelli’s late disclosure of stock holdings in a diet-supplement company and gifts from its chief executive.
Richmond Commonwealth Attorney Mike Herring found no evidence that late disclosures by Cuccinelli, a gubernatorial candidate, were an intentional effort to conceal, report Reuters, the New York Times and the Washington Post.
Cuccinelli made a late disclosure of free vacations at the lake home of the executive, Jonnie Williams Sr. of Star Scientific. Herring noted that Cuccinelli had disclosed other benefits and gifts from Williams, suggesting that the omissions were not an attempt to conceal the relationship.
Herring also noted that Cuccinelli sold stock in Star Scientific at a loss, and there is no evidence suggesting the attorney general tried to influence his office as it defended a lawsuit filed against the state by Star Scientific.
The Times calls the findings a “clear victory” for Cuccinelli as he tries to distance himself from an investigation into Williams’ more generous gifts to Viriginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his family. According to the Post, those gifts included a $6,500 Rolex and a $15,000 shopping spree for the First Lady.
