Mueller Brings Ex-GOP Rep. Weber Into Probe Over Manafort-Tied Interests

[DonViejo]

Source: Associated Press




By Desmond Butler Published NOVEMBER 3, 2017 3:05 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Robert Mueller’s grand jury is investigating a prominent Democratic lobbyist and a former GOP 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.

At the center of the widening probe are Tony Podesta, a longtime Democratic operative, and Vin Weber, a former GOP 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.

With the emphasis on the Ukrainian lobbying efforts, Mueller’s criminal probe is moving beyond investigating ties between the Trump campaign and Russia 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.

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.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/mueller-probes-vin-weber

[lagomorph777]

1. Uh-oh; this is going to ensnare a much bigger group of criminals.

Podesta we knew about; Weber is new.

[Irish_Dem]

2. Mueller is casting a wide net. I hope he catches all the criminals. nt

[aeromanKC]

3. Drain The Swamp

More power to Mueller in his effort to Drain The Swamp!!

[bucolic_frolic]

4. When will Don announce

that he has been secretly working with Mueller all along in an effort to drain the swamp?

[Mr. Ected]

5. But...but...but....this is a PARTISAN witchhunt

How come a Democrat got ensnared?

Honestly, that's the difference between us and them (one of them). Democrats want justice, even if one of our own is a scoundrel.

Republicans want to protect every one of their own and turn this patriotic endeavor into a partisan hack job that it assuredly is not.

[Honeycombe8]

6. Here comes the Podesta connection. I hope it's true that there's nothing to it. nt