RICHMOND, Va. -- Jonnie Williams took center stage again at the federal corruption trial of Bob and Maureen McDonnell Friday morning.
Right out of the gate, the attorney for Maureen McDonnell wasted no time asking Williams if he was only testifying against the McDonnells because he’s getting a deal with the feds.
During much of the cross examination by Maureen McDonnell’s attorney, Williams repeatedly replied he couldn’t recall information that was asked of him.
The defense pointed out that before Jonnie Williams signed an immunity deal, his story was different. An example given, was the first interview Williams did with the FBI and Virginia State Police. In it, the defense attorney said Williams reported that he never asked the Governor for anything and he never paid the McDonnells for favors.
He also told them in that interview that former Governor McDonnell was his friend and that they played golf together. In Williams’ testimony Thursday when he answered questions from prosecutors, he described their relationship as a “corrupt business relationship” and said he knew what he was doing was wrong.
Williams also testified that he didn’t consider the McDonnells to be his friends. Williams also said that early in the investigation he was asked to wear a wire and record conversations between him and the former governor.
The defense questioned Williams at length about the conditions of his immunity deal. He explained that as long as he told the truth about what happened he would not be prosecuted for the criminal wrongdoing on his part.
