The indictment that alleges covert foreign lobbying by two former Trump campaign officials is casting shadows on three powerful Washington lobbying and legal firms, with ties to prominent Democrats.
This broadens the stakes of the Russia investigation to both political parties, and draws in the brother of Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman.
Under a pseudonym, the Podesta Group, founded by Tony Podesta, is among the three firms cited in the indictment. None have yet to be charged with crimes.
Podesta has stepped down as a partner of his namesake firm, at which he has been described as a “mega-lobbyist” for over 30 years. He’s the brother of Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, John Podesta, who was a co-founder of the firm.
The case against former Trump campaign officials Paul Manafort and Rick Gates implicates the Podesta Group and two other firms in covert lobbying on behalf of Ukraine’s ruling political party from 2012 through 2014.
President Donald Trump has long railed about Democrats being the party guilty of using Russian connections to meddle in the election, and jubilantly took to twitter to discuss the news:
The biggest story yesterday, the one that has the Dems in a dither, is Podesta running from his firm. What he know about Crooked Dems is….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017
….earth shattering. He and his brother could Drain The Swamp, which would be yet another campaign promise fulfilled. Fake News weak!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017
(AP)
One Response
This simply shows that Mueller’s investigation is non-partisan, contrary to Trump’s claims.