Virginia Governor, Clinton Ally under FBI Investigation

Virginia Governor and longtime Clinton friend, Terry McAuliffe is currently being sued in front of the Virginia Supreme Court for his executive action overturning a centuries-old provision that bans violent felons from voting in the state.  But it turns out that well before McAuliffe caused outrage with last months move, the governor was already under FBI investigation for accepting illegal campaign contributions.

The investigation dates to at least last year and has focused, at least in part, on whether donations to his gubernatorial campaign violated the law, the officials said.

McAuliffe wasn’t notified by investigators that he is a target of the probe, according to the officials.

“The Governor will certainly cooperate with the government if he is contacted about it,” said Marc Elias, attorney for McAuliffe campaign, in a statement to CNN.

As part of the probe, the officials said, investigators have scrutinized McAuliffe’s time as a board member of the Clinton Global Initiative, a vehicle of the charitable foundation set up by former President Bill Clinton.

There’s no allegation that the foundation did anything improper; the probe has focused on McAuliffe and the electoral campaign donations, the officials said.

Spokespeople for the Justice Department and the FBI declined to comment.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, McAuliffe said he was “shocked” by the investigation and that it “has nothing to do with the Clinton Foundation.”

“This was an allegation of a gentleman who gave a check to my campaign,” McAuliffe said. “I didn’t bring the donor in. I didn’t bring him into the Clinton foundation. I’m not sure if I’ve even met the person, to be honest with you.”

Among the McAuliffe donations that drew the interest of the investigators was $120,000 from a Chinese businessman, Wang Wenliang, through his U.S. businesses. Wang was previously delegate to China’s National People’s Congress, the country’s ceremonial legislature.

It is ironic that McAuliffe railed so heavily against his predecessor, Republican Bob McDonald, who was also found to have accepted improper contributions.  Now, McAuliffe finds himself in the exact same position — as well as the same position as Hillary Clinton: under FBI investigation.

Source: CNN