Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe is under federal investigation investigation surrounding in part on campaign donations to his 2013 gubernatorial campaign, according to CNN.
Government officials told the network that the FBI and the Justice Department’s public integrity unit are investigating, among other things, $120,000 in donations from Chinese businessman Wang Wenliang to his campaign.
{mosads}”Neither the Governor nor his former campaign has knowledge of this matter, but as reported, contributions to the campaign from Mr. Wang were completely lawful,” McAuliffe campaign attorney Marc Elias told CNN in a statement.
“The Governor will certainly cooperate with the government if he is contacted about it.”
Foreign nationals are not allowed to donate to any American campaign, but a Wenliang spokeswoman told CNN that he has a green card, which would have cleared the donations.
The officials also told CNN that the investigation is also looking into McAuliffe’s role on the Clinton Global Initiative, a charity set up by former President Bill Clinton. But there are no additional indications as to the full extent of the investigation.
McAuliffe is a long-time Clinton loyalist who headed Hillary Clinton’s 2008 campaign. Clinton
hosted a Virginia fundraiser with McAuliffe on Sunday, just one day before the news of the investigation broke.
The Republican National Committee played up McAuliffe’s ties to the Clintons in a statement on the issue.
“Hillary Clinton’s campaign was already tainted by her own FBI investigation, so the revelation that her top political ally Terry McAuliffe is also facing a criminal probe is especially damaging,” said spokesman Michael Short.
“Not only is this FBI investigation another reminder of the kind of corruption and sleaze the Clintons and their friends traffic in, it raises additional questions about the legitimacy of the Clintons’ charitable enterprises.”
McAuliffe also served as the chairman of the Democratic National Committee back in 2000 and has remained a vocal supporter while serving as governor.
News of the investigation comes after McAuliffe’s predecessor, former Gov. Bob McDonnell, was found guilty on corruption charges in 2014. The Department of Justice’s public integrity unit prosecuted that case.
— Updated 7:14 p.m.
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