A state investigation into McDonnell is also ongoing. Report: Bid to indict Va. gov delayed

The Justice Department has reportedly delayed until next year a decision on whether to indict outgoing Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife in connection with a gifts scandal — a decision that came after a face-to-face appeal by the couple’s lawyers.

A report by The Washington Post late Wednesday night said U.S. Attorney Dana Boente told lawyers for the governor and first lady Maureen McDonnell a week ago that he planned to ask a grand jury to return an indictment by this past Monday over allegedly inappropriate help they gave dietary supplement maker Star Scientific after receiving gifts from CEO Jonnie Williams Sr.


McDonnell’s lawyers argued against the indictment in a meeting with Deputy Attorney General James Cole last Thursday, according to the Post, which quotes undisclosed sources familiar with the matter. The newspaper reported that a final decision about whether to press ahead with charges is now not expected before Jan. 2 and could come as late as February.

( PHOTOS: Bob McDonnell’s career)

Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, will succeed McDonnell, a Republican, on Jan. 11. The McDonnell lawyers reportedly argued that prosecutors should avoid interfering with the transfer of power and raised questions about a key witness.

Exit polls in last month’s election showed that 53 percent of voters approved of McDonnell’s job performance, but the Star Scientific scandal unquestionably damaged Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.

Cuccinelli donated $18,000 to charity as an offset for gifts he personally took from Williams. The gift scandal made it harder for him to criticize McAuliffe’s own ethics record.

Spokesmen for the McDonnells did not comment for the Post’s report, but the governor — while apologizing broadly — has insisted that Williams received no special treatment for the $165,000 in gifts and loans received by the governor and his family.

A state investigation into McDonnell is also ongoing.

McDonnell was once considered a potential 2016 presidential contender or a possible U.S. attorney general.