Politifact: Donald Trump Wrong On Tim Kaine Accepting More Gifts Than Bob McDonnell

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump

Upon the announcement of Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia joining Hillary Clinton on the Democratic ticket for the White House, Donald Trump tried to paint Kaine as somehow "corrupt" for taking more gifts during his time as an elected official in Virginia than former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell.

McDonnell was convicted for taking gifts that he did not disclose.

From the Pulitzer Prize winning website, Politifact:

"Bob McDonnell took a fraction of what Kaine took," said Trump, the GOP presidential nominee. "And I think, to me, it’s a big problem. Now, how do you take all these gifts? Hundreds of thousands of dollars."

We wondered whether McDonnell’s gift-taking was, in fact, "a fraction" of Kaine’s. Trump’s campaign did not respond to our request for proof. So we set out on our own, comparing gifts Kaine received as lieutenant governor and governor from 2002 to 2010 to those McDonnell accepted as attorney general from 2006 to 2009 and as governor from 2010 to 2014.

During those years, Virginia didn’t limit gifts to its politicians; the only requirement was that officeholders disclose what they accepted.

We researched the online files of the Virginia Public Access Project, a nonprofit organization that keeps records of campaign contributions and financial disclosure statements filed by state politicians.

[snip]

Kaine accepted $162,083 in gifts as lieutenant governor and governor, all of which was disclosed as required by state law.

McDonnell disclosed accepting $275,707 in gifts as attorney general and governor. And there was another $177,000 that he didn’t disclose. That comes to a total of $452,707 in gifts - almost three times Kaine’s total.

Trump has got this one dead wrong. We rate his statement Pants on Fire.

Former GOP Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia Sentenced to 2 Years Prison For Public Corruption

Former Governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell (R), has been sentenced to two years in prison and two subsequent years on probation after being convicted on 11 charges of public corruption.

From Politico:

McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, were convicted of corruption charges in September, following a highly emotional trial filled with testimony about their rocky marriage. Bob McDonnell was convicted by a jury on 11 charges, while his wife was convicted on eight. Maureen McDonnell, who was present at the court Tuesday, is to be sentenced next month.

The defense is expected to pursue an appeals process.

The McDonnells were found guilty of seeking to trade official favors and the prestige of the governor’s office for more than $165,000 worth of gifts and loans from Richmond-area businessman Jonnie Williams.

News Round-Up - Week of September 7, 2014

The UK's Stuart Hatton named Mr. Gay World 2014

• 28 year old Stuart Hatton, Mr. Gay U.K. 2014, ascended to the global throne when he was recently crowned Mr. Gay World 2014


• Anti-gay former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and wife found guilty of taking over $165,000 in "gifts"

• The 30 day stay on Broward County ruling for marriage equality has passed. Will marriage licenses be issued soon?

• Tennessee pastor doubles down on homophobia; says gays "must be put to death"

• Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson has a foreign policy plan to deal with ISIS: "Convert them or kill them"

• This is the worst AirBNB rental in the universe

• Something special about Robin Williams you probably didn't know

One more pic of Stuart Hatton, Mr. Gay World 2014

Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and wife indicted for illegally accepting luxury gifts and large loans

The former Governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen were indicted today on 14 felony charges of accepting lavish gifts, vacations and huge loans of more than $160,000 in gifts from the CEO of Star Scientific, Jonnie Williams.

Authorities alleged that McDonnell and his wife received gifts from executive Jonnie R. Williams again and again, lodging near constant requests for money, clothes, trips, golf accessories and private plane rides.

In exchange, authorities alleged that the McDonnells worked in concert to lend the prestige of the governorship to Williams’s struggling company, a small former cigarette manufacturer that now sells dietary supplements.

The two were charged with 14 felony counts, including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, obtaining property under color of their official office and conspiring to the do the same.

They were also charged with making false statements to a federal credit union.

McDonnell was also charged with making a false statement to a financial institution, and Maureen McDonnell was charged with obstructing the investigation.

McDonnell was virulently anti-gay during his life as a politician.

While running for governor, he advocated for a state ban on same-sex marriage; said gay parents threaten the ability of their children to achieve the American dream: only straight parents can give children the right start in life; he wanted to block adoptions by same-sex couples.

Immediately after taking office, McDonnell signed a new state policy that specifically removed LGBTQ protections from state workers.

And now we learn he is, allegedly, a crook.

There you have it, kids.

(source)