WASHINGTON - Special counsel Robert Mueller's grand jury is investigating a democratic lobbyist and a former GOP congressman for their involvement in an influence campaign on behalf of Ukrainian interests tied to Paul Manafort.
A person with direct knowledge of the investigation says that the probe is looking at longtime democratic operative Tony Podesta and former Republican Congressman Vin Weber, now the head of a lobbying firm.
The two men were part of a multimillion-dollar lobbying effort directed by Manafort and longtime associate rick gates. Manafort and Gates have been indicted on charges stemming from Mueller's investigation of Russia's effort to meddle in the 2016 presidential election.
Representatives for Podesta and Weber say they are cooperating with the investigation. Podesta's brother was the chairman of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.