Mueller's Manafort investigation reportedly led him to Democratic lobbyist Tony Podesta

(Image credit: AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)

Democratic lobbyist Tony Podesta is stepping down from his firm, the Podesta Group, after finding himself a target of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's ongoing investigation into the Trump campaign's possible collusion with Russia, Politico reports. Podesta was reportedly sucked into Mueller's probe during an investigation into the finances of President Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort. "Manafort organized a PR campaign on behalf of a nonprofit called the European Centre for a Modern Ukraine," Politico writes. "Podesta Group was one of several firms that were paid to do work on the PR campaign to promote Ukraine in the U.S."

Podesta — whose brother, John Podesta, served as Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman — told his staff Monday that he was stepping down because he "needs to fight this as an individual, but doesn't want the firm to fight it," a person familiar with the farewell speech said. Podesta will be succeeded by the firm's CEO, Kimberley Fritts.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.