Richmond, Va. – An investigation into the way Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli disclosed gifts given to him by political donor Jonnie Williams Sr. revealed nothing illegal, Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Herring announced in a report released Thursday morning, according to our sister station WTVR.
Williams is the CEO of Henrico-based Star Star Scientific. Cuccinelli is the Republican candidate for governor of Virginia.
“As of this date, July 18, 2013, our investigation finds no evidence that the Attorney General, in violation of the Act or any other law, received any payments, loans, or negotiable tender of any type from any reportable person or entity, including Johnny Williams and Star Scientific,” Herring wrote at the conclusion of his report. “Our investigation finds no evidence that the Attorney General in any way promoted, supported or assisted Star Scientific while he had a financial interest in the company.”
In a statement released after Herring’s report went public, the Attorney General thanked Herring for his impartial review.
“This review vindicates what I have said all along. There was no legal requirement to refer my own filings to a commonwealth’s attorney to review, but I did it because I wanted to be completely transparent with the public,” Cuccinelli’s statement read.
Despite finding no illegal action, Herring’s report did raise a red flag.
“One cannot help but question whether repeated omissions of gifts from Williams are coincidence or a pattern reflecting intent to conceal,” Herring wrote. “The disclosure of several other gifts and benefits from Williams in his original statements suggests that the Attorney General was not attempting to conceal the relationship.”
