ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said Tuesday he is confident he followed the law in accepting donations that now appear to be part of a federal criminal investigation.

McAuliffe defended his actions to reporters, a day after a law-enforcement official told The Associated Press that McAuliffe is the subject of a federal investigation looking at donations to his 2013 gubernatorial campaign.

McAuliffe said he believes the investigation centers around a donation connected to a 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.

“He was vetted by the campaign, and this gentleman is certainly entitled to give money to the campaign,” McAuliffe told reporters, after speaking at a preplanned event at a parole and probation office in Alexandria.

He described Wang as “a very substantial individual” who’s made major donations to Harvard University and is on the board at New York University.

The 62-year-old Wang is a member of China’s ruling Communist Party and a delegate from the northeastern province of Liaoning to the country’s ceremonial legislature, the National People’s Congress, according to his profile on the body’s website.