Democratic lobbyist Tony Podesta, founder of the Podesta lobbying group and brother of former Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, has alerted clients he is stepping down from the firm.

That announcement came this morning in an all-staff meeting at the firm, according to Politico.

Last week, NBC News reported that special prosecutor Robert Mueller's investigation was looking into the Podesta Group and Tony Podesta for possible violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Podesta Group CEO Kimberley Fritts and a "senior group" will launch a new firm.

>> On Rare.us: John Podesta shares the details of the FBI’s involvement in his email leaks

The Podesta Group was one firm that worked on a PR campaign led by Paul Manafort for his client, European Centre for a Modern Ukraine (ECMU), which promoted Ukrainian interests, according to the Politico report.

Podesta's announcement came on the same day that former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and his deputy Rick Gates turned themselves into the Federal Bureau of Investigation on a 12-count indictment charging them with "conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading FARA statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts," per the indictment.

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Instructor Daniel Jean-Baptiste reminds students to "measure twice, cut once" while using a hand saw at the Construction Ready accelerated summer program at Westside Works in Atlanta on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. The program provides training for careers in construction and the skilled trades. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com