Richmond Judge Margaret Spencer has denied a motion to dismiss charges against former Va. Executive Mansion chef Todd Schneider.
Schneider, 52, faces four felony counts of embezzlement. He is accused of taking food and other goods from the Virginia Executive Mansion. His trial is set for mid-October.
Earlier this week Schneider’s attorney argued that because Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli recused himself from the case citing a conflict of interest, that charges against Schneider should be dropped since it was Cuccinelli’s office that brought charges in the first place.
Cuccinelli said the conflict did not arise until the defense listed Governor Bob McDonnell as a possible witness.
Schneider also filed legal motions of his own that said Governor McDonnell and his family also took food and other goods from the Executive Mansion.
McDonnell recently wrote a $2,400 check to the state to cover the cost of food and supplies taken by his children from the kitchen of the Virginia Executive Mansion, the governor’s spokesperson confirmed.
Steve Benjamin, Schneider’s attorney, could not comment about the Judge Spencer’s refusal to dismiss the felony charges because of a gag order in the case.
The trial is set to begin October 15th and last three days.
