Va. Governor Grilled on $15K 'Wedding Gift' to Daughter

Bob McDonnell isn't the first father to be ruined by his daughter's lavish wedding, but he could now be the first whose vice presidential aspirations have been. When the Virginia governor's questionable financial relationship with a dietary supplement company was exposed by the Washington Post last month, McDonnell claimed that the $15,000 paid by Star Scientific for the catering at his daughter's wedding was a "gift" directly to the happy couple and not a political donation. But the Post has now obtained documents proving he was directly financially responsible for the wedding—and that the $3,500 left over from the catering costs went back to his wife.

Star Scientific is one of McDonnell's big campaign contributors. Under Virginia law, he must disclose any gift over $50. "Gifts that come to me, I regularly and diligently report those," said McDonnell. "But gifts that come to other family members under the current law are not reportable.” McDonnell has been whispered about as a potential GOP vice presidential candidate last year, but given a few such brushes with controversy (remember that whole transvaginal ultrasound debacle last year?), says the New Republic, his hopes for 2016 may now be dashed. (More Bob McDonnell stories.)