The surprise news of an FBI inquiry into Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has uncomfortable parallels to an FBI security review of his friend and political patron Hillary Clinton’s email system, but Clinton allies said it is unlikely to do her lasting harm.

McAuliffe (D) said Tuesday that he is “very confident” that the FBI will find no wrongdoing in its investigation of donations to his 2013 campaign and his personal finances. He said his reaction to news of the probe, which may have been underway for a year, was “shock.”

McAuliffe has many things in common with Bill and Hillary Clinton, his political benefactors and close friends. Along with overlapping business, political and social spheres, he shares their history of prodigious Democratic fundraising and financial dealings that have drawn scrutiny.

And now he shares the unwelcome news that the FBI is looking into the propriety of decisions or actions taken in his name.