Replies

GreenTech, shortly after its founding, partnered with Gulf Coast Funds Management — run by Anthony Rodham, Hillary Clinton's brother — to recruit EB-5 investors. (Today, Rodham runs the GreenTech EB-5 operation, and the two companies share offices in McLean, Va.) Between 2009 and 2012, EB-5 visas helped GreenTech raise $67 million from over 100 foreign investors. Gulf Coast collected more than $7 million of its own during that time, suggesting a massive "visas for sale" scheme. By early 2013, at least 31 Chinese had received green cards through the McAuliffe/Rodham EB-5 operation. (Keep in mind that, in China, there's no real distinction between the Communist Party, the government and the business elite.)

Gulf Coast attempted to acquire an EB-5 visa for a Chinese telecom executive linked to the Chinese government. Zhenjun Zhang, the Huwaei Technologies executive who coordinated with Gulf Coast, was accused by former CIA Director Michael Hayden of "providing sensitive information about foreign communication systems to Beijing," according to one report. Yet Gulf Coast still made a pay-for-visa deal.

One possible explanation: Foreign nationals with green cards can contribute to elections, thanks to a loophole that McAuliffe is currently exploiting to excuse monies he (and the Clinton Foundation) received from Chinese billionaire Wang Wenliang.

Coincidentally, Gulf Coast's Rodham is the godfather of the grandson of Aslan Abashidze, a former official in the former Soviet nation of Georgia, who partnered with Rodham in a deal to export hazelnuts. Abashidze was removed from office in 2004, thanks to public protests stemming from his conviction for stealing $57 million in government funds. Abashidze was also accused of murdering a former deputy.