Mueller Investigation Expands to Include Podesta Group, Top GOP Lobbyist - Sputnik International
Author: Sputnik
Description: Powerful Democratic lobbyist Tony Podesta and GOP strategist Vin Weber are both under investigation by the Justice Department (DOJ) for alleged connections to Paul Manafort, a lobbyist who was indicted on charges of conspiracy and money laundering – and who also happened to serve as manager for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Keywords: Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), European Center for a Modern Ukraine (ECMU), Mercury LLC, The Podesta Group, Party of Regions, Donald Trump, Viktor Yanukovych, Rick Gates, Vin Weber, John Podesta, Tony Podesta, Paul Manafort, Robert Mueller, Ukraine

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04:22 GMT +306 November 2017

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# Mueller Investigation Expands to Include Podesta Group, Top GOP Lobbyist

© REUTERS/ Jim Urquhart
US
22:07 03.11.2017Get short URL
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Powerful Democratic lobbyist Tony Podesta and GOP strategist Vin Weber are both under investigation by the Justice Department (DOJ) for alleged connections to Paul Manafort, a lobbyist who was indicted on charges of conspiracy and money laundering – and who also happened to serve as manager for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.

What unites the establishment left and right? Ukraine, in this case. Both Podesta and Weber are believed to have connections to Manafort through his lobbying in Ukraine for former President Viktor Yanukovych. It is Manafort's activities during this period that are under scrutiny by special counsel Robert Mueller, who has alleged that Podesta and his partner Richard Gates committed numerous crimes in their capacity as lobbyists.

These crimes include conspiracy against the US, conspiracy to launder money, failing to file their finances, acting as an unregistered foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), and making false statements. Manafort and Gates were arrested Monday and have been placed under house arrest with $10 million and $5 million bail, respectively.

© AP Photo/ Joe Marquette
Tony Podesta, Brother of Clinton Campaign Chair, Now Engulfed in RussiaGate

The Associated Press reported that two anonymous sources told them that Podesta and Gates met with Weber to discuss their lobbying work in Ukraine as well as communications with Yanukovych's Party of Regions, a pro-Russian political party. "There were questions about how much Podesta and Vin Weber were involved. There was a lot of interest there," one source said.

Podesta was already under investigation by Mueller's probe due to his connections to Manafort, and in fact resigned from his company the day Manafort turned himself in to authorities. Podesta and The Podesta Group have done business with a public relations campaign for the European Center for a Modern Ukraine (ECFMU), a Ukrainian nonprofit group that had also worked alongside Manafort. ECFMU paid The Podesta Group a total of $900,000 in 2012, but Mueller believes The Podesta Group may have violated FARA by not disclosing their dealings with ECFMU.

Weber's lobbying group, Mercury LLC, also allegedly worked for ECFMU. Although the nonprofit's stated purpose was to create closer ties between Ukraine and the EU, it has been accused of being a front for an influence campaign on behalf of Yanukovych. Several members of the Party of Regions sat on the ECFMU's board at some point, and the lobbyists they hired (such as Manafort) also advocated for Yanukovych.

© AP Photo/ Evan Vucci
Tony Podesta Departs From Lobbying Firm Amid Mueller Probe - Reports

Tony Podesta is the brother of the more famous John Podesta, best known for serving as Hillary Clinton's campaign chair and having his personal emails leaked in October 2016. However, Tony is a powerful Washington player in his own right, with his eponymous Podesta Group wielding tremendous sway with Democratic groups.

Weber served as a Minnesota Congressman from 1981-1993, but his real success came as an RNC advisor and as a lobbyist for the powerful Mercury, LLC. Weber is part of many Washington policy organizations, most notably a board member on the Council of Foreign Relations and the chairman for the National Endowment for Democracy.

Both the Podesta Group and Mercury LLC have announced that they're cooperating with the investigation.

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### Related:

  'Tenuous' Legal Theory Behind Money Laundering Charge - Manafort Lawyers

  Lavrov on Manafort Charges: Ukrainian Trace Should Be Investigated

  Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Points to Inaccuracy in Manafort Indictment

  Manafort Indictment Unlikely to Hurt Trump Unless Mueller Uncovers Russia Ties

  Manafort, Gates Placed Under House Arrest

Tags:
Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), European Center for a Modern Ukraine (ECMU), Mercury LLC, The Podesta Group, Party of Regions, Donald Trump, Viktor Yanukovych, Rick Gates, Vin Weber, John Podesta, Tony Podesta, Paul Manafort, Robert Mueller, Ukraine
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