The story is still early, with hints of bagmen and ties to foreign intelligence services (using agents of influence).  Certainly the softening changes in the GOP platform as to Ukraine and Russian occupation of territory while Manifort was campaign head makes more sense.  

However, what caught my eye…and what confirms an element of Sander’s campaign arguement… is the fact that Manafort and company paid both a Republcian lobbying group headed by former rising GOP star Vin Webber and a Democratic lobbying group headed by the brother of former Clinton Admin official and current HRC campaign chair John Podesta.  The two firms split the money and co-ordinated lawyers to avoid reporting their activity to the Justice Dept under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.  

——excerpt——–

“That lobbying included downplaying the necessity of a congressional resolution meant to pressure the Ukrainian leader to release an imprisoned political rival….

One former Podesta employee, speaking on condition of anonymity because of a non-disclosure agreement, said Gates described the nonprofit’s role in an April, 2012 meeting as supplying a source of money that could not be traced to the Ukrainian politicians who were paying him and Manafort.

In separate interviews, three current and former Podesta employees said disagreements broke out within the firm over the arrangement, which at least one former employee considered obviously illegal. Podesta, who said the project was vetted by his firm’s counsel, said he was unaware of any such disagreements.

A legal opinion drafted for the project for Mercury in May 2012, and obtained by AP, concluded that the European Centre qualified as a “foreign principal” under the Foreign Agents Registration Act but said disclosure to the Justice Department was not required. That determination was based on the nonprofit’s assurances that none of its activities was directly or indirectly supervised, directed, controlled, financed or subsidized by Ukraine’s government or any of the country’s political parties.

The Podesta Group’s CEO, Kimberley Fritts, said the two lobbying firms had coordinated on the legal conclusion that disclosure was not necessary to the Justice Department…..”

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/c01989a47ee5421593ba1b301ec07813/ap-sources-manafort-tied-undisclosed
-foreign-lobbying
———————–

Wonderful.

In a story about Manafort and Gate’s emails-

——-excerpt————
“The emails show Gates personally directed two Washington lobbying firms, Mercury LLC and the Podesta Group Inc., between 2012 and 2014 to set up meetings between a top Ukrainian official and senators and congressmen on influential committees involving Ukrainian interests. Gates noted in the emails that the official, Ukraine’s foreign minister, did not want to use his own embassy in the United States to help coordinate the visits.”

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/6eed1ef61eb744e1aac584f8ac1f7247/trump-advisers-waged-covert-influenc
e-campaign
—————-

So, a sleazy DC consulting firm takes money from a questionable foreign govt with ties to the Putin Regime and spreads it around to well connnected Republican lobbiests and the family of HRC’s campaign chair. And those two firms conspire to wiggle out of reporting their efforts to the Justice Dept. And you know there is absolutely NO influence or consideration being given for their efforts by the campaigns for President.

That is the backgroud of the efforts of just one foreign govt in Washington.  Lord knows what is happening with other govts, corperations, trade groups, etc…  

Which was one of Sen. Sander’s arguements which resonated and was one of Trump’s arguements that did so well. Manafort is gone from Trump campaign.  Maybe Podesta should go as well?  If not, then confirms the “Crooked Hillary” charge and allows Trump to proclaim his own integrity.

Ridge