It's also not clear exactly why Mueller referred the matters to federal prosecutors in New York. A representative for Podesta and the Podesta Group declined to comment. Mueller had been examining whether Mercury and the Podesta Group properly identified to federal authorities their foreign advocacy for the European Centre for a Modern Ukraine, CNN previously reported. The ECFMU had given the firm a statement attesting that it wasn't an arm of a foreign government, the Podesta Group said. The Podesta Group said previously that it retroactively filed a disclosure after discussions with the Department of Justice.

Source: CNN July 31, 2018 22:18 UTC