Under-fire Labour MP Shane Jones has taken a shot at the media, saying he is the victim of a witchhunt.
Mr Jones was stood down yesterday from his portfolios and frontbench place after Labour leader David Shearer asked the Auditor-General to investigate the handling of a Chinese millionaire's citizenship case.
While he was associate immigration minister, Mr Jones granted citizenship to William Yan against the advice of officials who said there were questions about his multiple identities and a warrant for his arrest in China.
Yan was found not guilty at the High Court in Auckland today on five immigration fraud charges.
Despite the verdict, Mr Shearer said the Auditor-General investigation would continue.