Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli tried to distance himself on Wednesday from Gov. Bob McDonnell (R), who is being investigated by state and federal authorities amid reports that he accepted lavish gifts from a donor, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Cuccinelli, who is running to succeed McDonnell as governor in 2014, said in a written statement that the McDonnell scandal is “painful for Virginia” and “completely inconsistent with Virginia’s very reserved traditions,” according to the Times-Dispatch.
“Right now there are two investigations running, one of which began with my referral, and we need to let those play out,” the statement continued. “However, all of this emphasizes the need for clearer and faster disclosures that cover the whole family, as well as a cap on the size and types of gifts.”
Cuccinelli himself had initially failed to disclose a portion of gifts from the same donor embroiled in the McDonnell scandal, Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams Sr., as well as stock in Williams’ company, according to the Times-Dispatch.
