RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell is telling jurors that his time in public office took a toll on his marriage.
Separate Lives
McDonnell went back on the witness stand Thursday as his public corruption trial resumed in federal court in Richmond. He said his wife, Maureen, developed something of a separate life from him as she raised their five children and he devoted time to being a state legislator, Army Reservist and lawyer in private practice.
Tension
McDonnell says tension in his marriage was also fueled in part by his wife's difficulty dealing with her staff.
McDonnell testified Thursday that it got so bad that he eventually stayed in his office longer than necessary rather than go home and listen to his wife's complaints.
He also said he often heard his wife, Maureen, yelling at assistants. He said she didn't appreciate it when he tried to rein her in.
Key Issue
The marriage is a key issue in the McDonnells' public corruption trial. Defense attorneys suggest they couldn't have conspired in a gifts-for-favors scheme with a wealthy businessman because their communications had broken down.
The former governor and his wife are charged with accepting more than $165,000 in gifts and loans from former Star Scientific Inc. CEO Jonnie Williams in exchange for promoting his company's dietary supplements.
Defense attorneys have suggested that the McDonnells could not have conspired because they were barely talking.
