JUSTICE DEPARTMENT/LEGAL/LOBBYING/ROBERT MUELLER: “Democratic lobbyist Tony Podesta is leaving the Washington firm he founded as the Podesta Group finds itself caught up in an investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller, according to people familiar with the move.
Mr. Podesta told employees of his lobbying firm at a companywide meeting on Monday [10-30-17] that he planned to step aside, according to people familiar with the move. His announcement came on the same day that Paul Manafort and Rick Gates, two former campaign aides to President Donald Trump, were indicted and taken into custody…
The Podesta Group filed disclosures with the Justice Department in April acknowledging its work for the European Centre for a Modern Ukraine, a think tank linked to the Party of Regions. At the time, the Podesta Group said it hadn’t previously registered its work for the think tank with the Justice Department because the organization had said it wasn’t funded or controlled by a foreign government or political party. The Foreign Agents Registration Act requires foreign agents to file regular updates with the DOJ on contacts with U.S. media outlets and lawmakers, as well as to publicly make available any propaganda materials created and disseminated as part of a campaign on behalf of foreign governments…
Mr. Podesta declined to comment, and a representative for the firm didn’t respond to requests for comment. Politico first reported the plan for Mr. Podesta’s departure on Monday.”
-Rebecca Ballhaus and Brody Mullins, “Tony Podesta to Leave His D.C. Lobbying Firm,” The Wall Street Journal online, Oct. 30, 0217