90 Miles From Tyranny : Podesta Group’s Ties to Manafort Case Loom Larger in Mueller Probe

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Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Podesta Group’s Ties to Manafort Case Loom Larger in Mueller Probe

The lobbying group co-founded by Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign chairman is in the crosshairs of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, being mentioned indirectly Monday in the 12-count indictment of President Donald Trump’s former campaign manager.

The Podesta Group has been identified in news reports as “Company B,” one of two firms that has lobbied for pro-Russian Ukrainian government officials, in the indictment of Paul Manafort, the former Trump campaign manager, and Manafort associate Rick Gates.

The Podesta Group was founded in 1988 by John Podesta, Clinton’s former campaign chairman, who hasn’t been part of the company’s operations since leaving in 1993 to work for President Bill Clinton’s White House, and eventually became chief of staff. His brother, Tony Podesta, stepped down Monday as chairman because the company has reportedly been losing clients as a result of the Mueller probe.

“Company A” was identified as Mercury Public Affairs, a Republican-leaning firm that includes former Rep. Vin Weber of Minnesota and former Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana as partners. Neither the Podesta Group, nor Mercury Public Affairs was accused of any illegality.“There is much more to come in this investigation, and the conventional wisdom seems to be shifting that this will only target the right side of the aisle,” Ron Hosko, a former assistant director of the FBI, told The Daily Signal.

“Bob Mueller knows what’s expected of him, and I don’t see him doing anything differently, based on Republicans or Democrats. … If the Podesta Group simultaneously worked with the campaign, or there was a relationship with the brothers that is relevant to the investigation, it may tie the....Read More HERE

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