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Maureen McDonnell: Hid Gifts From Governor

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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A newly released court document describes what former Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell would have said had she testified in her husband's public corruption case.

The affidavit from her lawyer says she would have testified that she hid vitamin executive Jonnie Williams' gifts from her husband because she figured McDonnell would make her return them.

The affidavit was filed under seal last year and was made public Wednesday. It outlines how Maureen McDonnell would have testified in her husband's defense had their trials been severed. After a judge refused to allow separate trials, she declined to testify at their joint trial.

The McDonnells were convicted of taking more than $165,000 in gifts and loans from Williams in exchange for promoting his products.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.