Defense Lawyers Take Turn Attacking Maureen McDonnell

Two weeks of prosecution testimony has not been kind to Maureen McDonnell, wife of former Va. Gov. Bob McDonnell. The pair are on trial for allegedly trying to wrangle state perks for a Richmond businessman in exchange for lavish gifts.

But, as the defense began calling witnesses Monday, things were looking worse for the former first lady. Janet Vestal Kelly, the former secretary of the commonwealth, testified about Marueen McDonnell’s “very diva-ish” behavior, including a threat by the entire mansion staff in January 2012 to walk off the job over her attitude.

The Washington Post blog is following every twist and turn. Check it out here.

The couple was charged Jan. 21 with illegally accepting up to $165,000 in gifts, luxury vacations and large loans from Jonnie Williams, in exchange for lending the prestige of the governor’s office to Williams’ struggling dietary supplement company, Star Scientific.

Robert D. Holsworth, a consultant and former Virginia Commonwealth University political science professor, has called the defense strategy ”extraordinary.”

“An essential part of it is to throw Maureen under the bus,” he told WJLA. “The defense is portraying her as troubled, irrational and secretive. They haven’t taken a single step to defend her honor.”

Read: WJLA’s ”McDonnell trial reveals unflattering portrait of ex-Va. first lady”

So far, the trial has included claims that Maureen McDonnell tried to pitch businessman Williams’ dietary supplement to Mitt Romney’s wife, Ann, who has multiple sclerosis. And one former aid also called her a ”nutbag.”

Read: 5 Strangest Things We’ve Learned at the McDonnell Trial