Among the donations under question is $120,000 McAuliffe received from Chinese businessman Wang Wenliang through his US businesses. “US election law prohibits foreign nationals to donate to political races”.
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“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.
McAuliffe is a close ally of Hillary Clinton, the front-runner for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.
McAuliffe said he doesn’t think he’s even met Wang, though he believes he has met people from Wang’s company. The Justice Department also did not confirm or deny news of the investigation Monday. In fact, the inquiry could very well reveal nothing, they said.
Officials who are charged and convicted of accepting campaign contributions from a foreign entity could face fines and a prison term.
The officials say the investigation remains active and ongoing. Rilin Enterprises that contributed on behalf of Wang said he had not been contacted by investigators.
Quentin Kidd, an analyst at Christopher Newport University, noted that the report follows the conviction of Virginia’s previous governor, Bob McDonnell, on corruption charges.
On May 23, the same day that the federal probe was leaked, the GOP-controlled state House and Senate filed a case with the Supreme Court of Virginia accusing McAuliffe of exceeding his authority when he authorized to restoration of voting rights to 206,000 felons, the Washington Post reports. Federal law forbids foreigners from contributing to USA political campaigns, but McAuliffe said Wang has held a green card for almost a decade and is a legitimate donor.
McAuliffe’s spokesman told WTVR that Wang holds a green card and as such is eligible to make campaign contributions.
One of the donations that drew the interest of investigators was $120,000 from Wang Wenliang, a Chinese businessman, through Wang’s US business.
“This has nothing to do with the Clinton Foundation”, McAuliffe said. What’s interesting about this investigation is, the reporting is, it’s focused on these campaign contributions from a Chinese national who apparently has permanent residence status in the United States, Mr. Wang.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, McAuliffe said he was “shocked” by the investigation and that it “has nothing to do with the Clinton Foundation”. McAuliffe served as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2001 to 2005, was aide to President Clinton’s election campaign and was a top aide during Hillary Clinton’s failed 2008 presidential bid.
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McAuliffe’s worldwide business connections also came under scrutiny prior to his gubernatorial campaign.
