Podesta Group chalked up $2.3M in fees/expenses from foreign clients during the six-month period ended June 30. The financial haul represents a 21 percent rise from what Podesta reported to federal officials a year ago.

Iraq took top honors on the client list, kicking in $482K for assistance from Podesta on its relationship with the US.

Podesta staffers contacted the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Armed Service Committees on behalf of the Iraqis. They also reached out to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Harry Reid plus the offices of Sen. John McCain and House Speaker John Boehner.

The firm contacted an extensive list of media including CNN, New York Times, ABC, Associated Press, Financial Times, Fox News, CNN, Bloomberg, Washington Post, Buzzfeed and Wall Street Journal for Iraq.

With outlays of $410K, the former Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan topped India ($350K) and Myanmar/Burma ($210K) for the No. 2 slot at Podesta.