The Latest: McAuliffe attorney: Probe should be closed

RICHMOND, Va. – The Latest on a federal investigation into Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s campaign contributions (all times local):

1:20 p.m.

An attorney for Gov. Terry McAuliffe says the federal investigation into the governor has focused on his business dealings before he took office.

Attorney James W. Cooper said Department of Justice officials told him have been looking into McAuliffe’s foreign sources of income before he became governor and whether he violated the law by lobbying the U.S. government on behalf of foreign governments.

Cooper told The Associated Press that federal officials said they have found no evidence McAuliffe engaged in such lobbying.

Cooper said federal officials did not mention concerns about campaign contributions.

Cooper said he said he believes the investigation should be closed “promptly” because there’s no evidence McAuliffe violated the law.

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10:30 a.m.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said federal authorities have told his attorney there’s no indication the governor did anything wrong related to an ongoing campaign finance investigation.

The governor said on WTOP on Wednesday that his attorney reached out to federal prosecutors following report that McAuliffe is a subject of a federal investigation looking at donations to his 2013 gubernatorial campaign.

McAuliffe has said he believes the investigation centres around a donation connected to Chinese businessman Wang Wenliang. Federal law forbids foreigners from contributing to U.S. political campaigns, but McAuliffe said Wang has held a green card for nearly a decade and is a legitimate donor.

Neither a spokesman for the Justice Department or McAuliffe’s attorney immediately returned calls seeking comment.

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1:45 a.m.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe says he’s confident he followed the law in accepting donations that now appear to be part of a federal criminal investigation.

McAuliffe defended his actions Tuesday to reporters at an event in Alexandria. A law-enforcement official told The Associated Press on Monday that McAuliffe is the subject of a federal investigation looking at donations to his 2013 gubernatorial campaign.

McAuliffe said he believes the investigation centres around a donation connected to Chinese businessman Wang Wenliang. Federal law forbids foreigners from contributing to U.S. political campaigns, but McAuliffe said Wang has held a green card for nearly a decade and is a legitimate donor.

McAuliffe is a longtime friend of Bill and Hillary Clinton. He said he’s also confident the investigation won’t harm Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid.