The Podesta Group filed a new disclosure on Wednesday acknowledging its work for a European nonprofit that could have principally benefitted the Ukrainian government.
The lobbying firm’s efforts were directed by ex-Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, whose dealings with the Ukrainian government have come under serious scrutiny.
Every major outlet that covered the story rightfully reported on Manafort’s ties to President Trump. But not a single one mentioned Podesta Group Chairman Tony Podesta’s work on behalf of Hillary Clinton.
Though some of the outlets noted Podesta’s brother John served as Clinton’s campaign chairman, it appears none of the mainstream reports bothered to inform readers that Tony himself was involved in her bid for the White House.
By July of 2016 alone, Podesta had raised $268,000 for Clinton’s campaign and $31,000 for the Hillary Victory Fund. Clinton’s campaign website lists him among its “Hillblazers,” described as “individuals who have contributed and/or raised $100,000 or more for Hillary for America, the Hillary Victory Fund, and/or the Hillary Action Fund” since the campaign’s launch.
In the first paragraph of a report on the new disclosures, for instance, the Associated Press wrote:
A Washington lobbying firm that worked on a covert influence campaign in the U.S. under the direction of two former top campaign advisers to President Donald Trump has registered after the fact with the Justice Department as a foreign agent. It acknowledged its work could have principally benefited Ukraine’s government, led at the time by a pro-Russian political party.
Given that the Podesta Group was cofounded by Clinton’s campaign chairman (John) and run by a man who bundled hundreds of thousands of dollars for that campaign (Tony), why are those connections not as relevant as Manafort’s link to Trump?
Reports from Politico, McClatchy, the Washington Post and other mainstream publications fail to mention Podesta’s bundling efforts. On its own, the simple fact that Podesta was related to the campaign chairman is not nearly as powerful as the fact that he dedicated serious time and money to the campaign on his own.
Again, not one mainstream outlet appears to have included that information in their stories on the filings.
Emily Jashinsky is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
