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What is it with Virginia governors? First former governor Bob McDonnell was convicted in a corruption case, and now current governor Terry McAuliffe is under investigation for donations to his gubernatorial campaign.
According to a new report from CNN, the FBI and prosecutors from the Justice Department’s public integrity unit have been looking into the Democrat since at least last year.
From CNN:
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 …
U.S. election law prohibits foreign nationals from donating to federal, state or local elections. Penalties for violations include fines and/or imprisonment.
But Wang holds U.S. permanent resident status, according to a spokeswoman, which would make him a U.S. person under election law and eligible to donate to McAuliffe’s campaign.
The investigation is also looking into McAuliffe’s actions as a board member of the Clinton Global Initiative (Wang, for instance, also donated to CGI.)
According to CNN, the investigation is ongoing.
The FBI and DOJ did not alert McAuliffe to the probe, but a spokesperson told CNN that he “will certainly cooperate with the government if he is contacted about it.”
McAuliffe beat then-Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in November 2013 to become governor.
Rachel Kurzius