Mueller’s grand jury is investigating a prominent DEMOCRAT lobbyist and a former congressman for their involvement in an influence campaign on behalf of Ukrainian interests tied to Paul Manafort, according to a person with direct knowledge of the investigation.
With emphasis on the Ukrainian lobbying efforts, Mueller’s criminal probe is moving away from investigating the Trump campaign and is aggressively pursuing people who worked as foreign agents without registering with the Justice Department.
More witnesses are expected before the grand jury in coming weeks.
At the center of the widening probe are Tony Podesta, a longtime DEMOCRAT operative, and Vin Weber, a former congressman and leader of his own high-powered lobbying firm, Mercury LLC. The two men were hired as part of a multimillion-dollar lobbying effort directed by Manafort and longtime associate Rick Gates.
Representatives for Weber’s firm and Podesta said they are cooperating with the special counsel’s investigation. Podesta, whose brother was the chairman of Hillary Clinton’s campaign, has resigned from his firm.
FBI agents also expressed interest in the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, which produced a 2012 report used to justify the jailing of an opposition politician in Ukraine.
https://www.apnews.com/a7589ef1d4034a08b93d966abbb05017