RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell's sister says she had plenty of money to support a struggling real estate venture that has been an issue in her brother's public corruption trial.
Prosecutors say financial problems with two Virginia Beach rental homes drove McDonnell and his wife to take loans from a wealthy businessman who was seeking state-backed research on a dietary supplement made by his company.
But the sister, Maureen C. McDonnell, testified Monday that she earned about $560,000 in 2012 and could easily pay bills on the properties.
Bob McDonnell and his wife, also named Maureen, are charged with accepting more than $165,000 in gifts and loans from former Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams in exchange for using their office to promote Star's tobacco-based nutritional supplement.
