FBI Probes Donations to Virginia Governor's Campaign

ByMIKE LEVINE ABCNews logo
Monday, May 23, 2016

Federal authorities have been looking into whether donations to Terry McAuliffe's 2013 Virginia gubernatorial campaign may have violated federal law, a source with knowledge of the probe told ABC News.

The probe could very well turn up no evidence of criminal wrongdoing, the source said.

According to an attorney for the Democratic governor's campaign, McAuliffe has not been told he is under FBI investigation, and neither he nor the campaign knows anything about the matter.

Nevertheless, as part of the FBI's review, agents have looked at McAuliffe's time associated with the Clinton Global Initiative and contributions to his campaign from foreign nationals such as Wang Wenliang, a prominent Chinese businessman who reportedly donated $120,000, the source said.

"Contributions to the campaign from Mr. Wang were completely lawful," McAuliffe campaign attorney Marc Elias said in a statement to ABC News. "The governor will certainly cooperate with the government if he is contacted about it."

An FBI representative declined to comment on the probe, which was first reported by CNN.

The governor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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