NORFOLK, Va. - Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe said Tuesday he is confident he has done nothing wrong in accepting a six-figure campaign donation from a billionaire with close ties to the Chinese government.
McAuliffe made his first public comments Tuesday on reports that the FBI and Justice Department are investigating his finances. CNN first reported the probe Monday and said it is ongoing.
McAuliffe said his legal team thoroughly investigated the $120,000 donation from Wang Wenliang through his American-based company.
"There's no wrongdoing allegations that have been made. If you read the story yesterday they've got some questions about a donor. My legal team fully vetted this individual. He's been a green card holder since 2007, so we're very confident," McAuliffe told reporters today.
Campaign finance laws prohibit foreign interests from contributing to U.S elections, but Wang is a U.S national.
The Washington Post reported that the federal investigation also includes a period when McAuliffe was an unpaid director of the Clinton Foundation. Wang donated two million dollars to the foundation, but McAuliffe said Tuesday he is not responsible for securing the donation.
When asked about Wang, McAuliffe said "I'm not sure I've ever met the gentleman."
Neither the FBI nor the Justice Department have publicly confirmed the investigation.
