Podesta Group under investigation in Russia probe

[Morphine Prince 110,044]

WASHINGTON — Tony Podesta and the Podesta Group are now the subjects of a federal investigation being led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, three sources with knowledge of the matter told NBC News.

The probe of Podesta and his Democratic-leaning lobbying firm grew out of Mueller's inquiry into the finances of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, according to the sources. As special counsel, Mueller has been tasked with investigating possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Manafort had organized a public relations campaign for a non-profit called the European Centre for a Modern Ukraine (ECMU). Podesta's company was one of many firms that worked on the campaign, which promoted Ukraine's image in the West.

The sources said the investigation into Podesta and his company began as more of a fact-finding mission about the ECMU and Manafort's role in the campaign, but has now morphed into a criminal inquiry into whether the firm violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act, known as FARA.

Under FARA, people who lobby on behalf of foreign governments, leaders or political parties must file detailed disclosures about their spending and activities with the Justice Department. Willful failure to file the forms is a felony and can result in up to five years in prison, though such prosecutions are rare.

The Podesta Group amended its FARA registration to accurately reflect its work with ECMU only after the payments were reported by the media. Manafort's firm also filed a FARA registration after media reports in June disclosed its work in Ukraine from 2012 through 2014.

A spokeswoman said the Podesta Group’s original filing was submitted after the advice of legal experts because the ECMU "had certified that it was neither funded nor directed by a foreign government or political party."

After the media reports, said the spokeswoman, the Podesta Group reached out to FARA regulators who instructed how the firm should file.

The ECMU was reportedly backed by the Party of Regions, the pro-Russian and oligarch-funded Ukrainian political party for which Manafort worked as a consultant, and which paid his firm millions. Viktor Yanukovych of the Party of Regions, a Manafort client, was president of Ukraine during the ECMU campaign, which ran from 2012 to 2014. He fled the country in 2014.

Tony Podesta is the chairman of the Podesta Group and the brother of John Podesta, Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign chairman. John Podesta is not currently affiliated with the Podesta Group and is not part of Mueller's investigation.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mueller-now-investigating-democratic-lobbyist-tony-podesta-n812776

 

[Gaga Monster 13,001]

Now the Democrats are brought into the Russia probe

[tthen 4,621]

Hopefully that'll shut Trump up on his whole WITCH HUNT BIAS!!1!1! rant

[Chromatislaps 34,854]

 girl this is very messy

[Envi 765]

45 minutes ago, Gaga Monster said:

Now the Democrats are brought into the Russia probe

The Podesta Group (company of John Podesta's brotha)  -----> FARA (foreign payment) -----> ECMU (backed by Russian oligarch) ------> Mueller's investigation

This is obviously not a matter of political affiliation. It's a typical 'follow the money' investigation by FBI

[Envi 765]

50 minutes ago, tthen said:

Hopefully that'll shut Trump up on his whole WITCH HUNT BIAS!!1!1! rant

or...he would tweet about it....another shiny object(s) to distract the media...

[tthen 4,621]

1 hour ago, Envi said:

The Podesta Group (company of John Podesta's brotha)  -----> FARA (foreign payment) -----> ECMU (backed by Russian oligarch) ------> Mueller's investigation

This is obviously not a matter of political affiliation. It's a typical 'follow the money' investigation by FBI

Exactly. I'm a pretty solid Dem, but I won't let that get in the way of justice just because of bad reputation. There's a trail to follow and the FBI are simply following it.