Special counsel Robert Mueller has issued subpoenas to Podesta Group and Mercury LLC regarding their support of a campaign run by former Trump advisor Paul Manafort in support of a pro-Russia political party in Ukraine, according to news reports.
Manafort, who was Trump's campaign manager, received $17M in consulting fees during 2013 and 2014 from an outfit called European Center for a Modern Ukraine for supporting Ukraine’s entry into the European Union.
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The Center provided political backing for then-Ukraine president Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to Russia in 2014 during an uprising.
Podesta and Mercury failed to initially register their work in support of Manafort’s effort, but both have filed retroactively.
Mueller’s PR subpoenas are part of the overall probe of Russia’s meddling in the presidential election.
With Donald Trump Jr, and Jared Kushner, Manfort attended the Trump Tower meeting in 2016 with a Russian lobbyist and lawyer.
The Washington Post also reported that Mueller sent a subpoenas to SGR LLC, which worked with ex-Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Jeffrey Nesbit, who served as communications director for former vice president Dan Quayle, is named assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Kate Bedingfield, White House communications director, will exit at the end of the month. Ben LaBolt, a longtime Biden adviser, will take the CD post.
Cathy Cochran, senior VP in Teneo’s Washington office, has rejoined the US Dept of Agriculture as director in its communications office.
Mexico is working with the DC-based Global Action on Gun Violence to push for “impactful gun violence prevention strategies” in the US.
Douglas Farrar, who was VP-communications and strategy at the Carnegie Center for International Peace, has joined the Federal Trade Commission as PA director.
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