CHARLOTTE, N.C. — U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger, R-North Carolina, maintains his conscience is clear despite a microscope the FBI has put on his family's land business, Pittenger Land Investments.
The FBI isn't talking about the probe because the agency told Channel 9 it doesn't reveal the existence of any investigations, but the Republican congressman has been answering questions.
PAST ARTICLE: Congressman Robert Pittenger under federal probe
However, he continues to be very vague on what the FBI has asked to see and why they want to see it.
Pittenger said in April the FBI first contacted Pittenger Land Investments. It's a family company his wife now runs as CEO.
The congressman gave over ownership before he took office in 2013.
"We don't have any bad business deals. Nobody has ever lost any money and we've had a wonderful business experience," Pittenger said.
"Why would there be an FBI probe into what a congressman is doing?" reporter Jenna Deery asked Pittenger.
"I can't speak to that. All I know is we have lived a life of integrity," he said.
He said the FBI hasn't talked to him directly, but the agency has been communicating with attorneys for his family's company, asking to see information on business practices.
"Any specific deal or business transaction that they were asking for?" reporter Jenna Deery asked.
"Nope," said Pittenger. "They all handled that through attorneys and that was all taken care of."
The company has a long history in land acquisitions touting $250 million in investments in Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina.
There are 57 limited liability companies registered with the Secretary of State's website with Pittenger's wife, Suzanne Pittenger listed as the registered agent.
Most of them are related to properties near major highways or thoroughfares.
Pittenger has been in the spotlight before for the perception he used his political power as a state senator years ago to benefit from land deals with the government.
He said ethics investigations were done and no wrongdoing was found. He believes that will be the case with the FBI probe.
"If this was a concern to me, I certainly wouldn't be out having public forums," said Pittenger.
The congressman has a town hall meeting in Cornelius Wednesday night. It's the third of six he's doing in August.
He said he has not gotten a timeline about when the probe might be over, but said he hasn't heard anything about it in months.
Channel 9 reached out to his attorneys Wednesday and we have not heard back.
Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com: