A private spokesperson for Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) on Thursday refused to discuss the terms under which a Virginia businessman gave $120,000 in loans to the governor and his family.
Earlier this week, McDonnell announced he had repaid $124,115.17 to the businessman, Jonnie Williams, whose relationship with McDonnell is currently the subject of a federal investigation.
According to a press release McDonnell issued via his Twitter account on Tuesday, $52,278.17 had been repaid for a loan made to his wife, Maureen McDonnell, in 2011, and $71,837 had been repaid for two additional loans made in 2012 to a real estate business owned jointly by McDonnell and his sister. The press release indicated that the payments included “both principal and interest.” According to The Washington Post, the original loans from Williams totaled $50,000 and $70,000.
In response to questions from TPM, Rich Galen, a recently hired private spokesman for McDonnell, declined to provide any further information about how the interest on the loans had been calculated, and whether any written documents exist laying out the terms of the loans.
“I think we’ll stick with the statement as written,” the spokesperson, Rich Galen, wrote in an email.
In his statement on Tuesday, McDonnell apologized for the “embarrassment” the still-ongoing scrutiny of his relationship with Williams had brought to Virginia.
“I am deeply sorry for the embarrassment certain members of my family and I brought upon my beloved Virginia and her citizens,” McDonnell said in the statement. “I want you to know that I broke no laws and that I am committed to regaining your trust and confidence. I hope today’s action is another step toward that end.”
