Catalina Camia and Brad Heath

USA TODAY

14-count indictment charges McDonnells with fraud%2C conspiracy

Robert McDonnell was elected in 2009 and served one term

Former governor insists he did nothing illegal

Former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell said Tuesday he did "nothing illegal" and vowed to fight the federal government's "false allegations" that he and his wife improperly accepted gifts and loans from a political donor.

McDonnell addressed reporters in Richmond hours after he and his wife, Maureen, were indicted on 14 counts. The indictment alleges they accepted more than $135,000 in expensive clothing, trips, loans and other items from Jonnie Williams Sr., former CEO of Star Scientific, in exchange for the governor's assistance in helping the maker of dietary supplements.

"I believe the facts and the law are clearly on our side," McDonnell said, as his wife and two children stood next to him. "We will face these false allegations with strength and firm resolve."

McDonnell vowed to "use every available resource and advocate ... for as long as it takes to fight and prevail against these false allegations and the unjust overreach of the federal government."

The Republican, once touted as a potential presidential contender and running mate for Mitt Romney, has been out of office for only a few days. Virginia voters elected Democrat Terry McAuliffe to succeed McDonnell, who could not run for a consecutive term. McAuliffe was sworn in Jan. 11.

The indictment charges McDonnell and his wife with a wide array of official corruption. Among the charges: wire fraud, conspiracy and obtaining property under color of their official offices.

Maureen McDonnell was charged with obstructing the government's investigation. The former governor was also charged with making a false statement to a financial institution.

"Today's charges represent the Justice Department's continued commitment to rooting out public corruption at all levels of government," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman. "Ensuring that elected officials uphold the public's trust is one of our most critical responsibilities."

McDonnell last year repaid more than $120,000 to Williams, with interest, and apologized for bringing "embarrassment" to the state. In a written statement that he repeated before TV cameras, McDonnell insisted he did not break the law.

"I deeply regret accepting legal gifts and loans from Mr. Williams, all of which have been repaid with interest, and I have apologized for my poor judgment, for which I take full responsibility," McDonnell said. "However, I repeat emphatically that I did nothing illegal for Mr. Williams in exchange for what I believed was his personal generosity and friendship."

Prosecutors said the relationship began even before McDonnell took office in 2010.

In December 2009, Williams offered to buy Maureen McDonnell an expensive Oscar de la Renta dress to wear to her husband's inauguration. Maureen McDonnell ultimately rejected the dress after one of her husband's staffers expressed concern about the arrangement. She wrote in an e-mail at the time that the McDonnells were "broke and have an unconscionable amount in credit card debt already. This inaugural is killing us."

The indictment goes on to detail trips aboard a jet owned by Williams and private dinners at the governor's mansion in Richmond.

It also detailed a 2011 shopping trip in New York City in which Williams bought Maureen McDonnell clothing at Oscar de La Renta, Louis Vuitton and Bergdorf Goodman for her daughter's wedding and an anniversary party. In return, the documents say, Maureen McDonnell arranged for Williams to sit next to her husband at an event.

Follow @ccamia and @bradheath on Twitter.