A Democratic lobbyist is stepping down from the firm he founded after becoming a subject of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, according to reports

Tony Podesta — founder of the Podesta Group and brother of former Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta — announced his decision to leave during a Monday meeting, Politico and NBC News reported.

Podesta is handing over the reins to CEO Kimberly Fritz.

Podesta reportedly told staff he "doesn't intend to go quietly, or learn how to play golf." But his decision to leave was to save the firm.

"This is not about me, this is about y'all," he said, according to Politico.

Last week, NBC News reported that Podesta caught the notice of Mueller, charged with the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, while the special counsel was investigating the finances of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

Podesta reportedly failed to disclose lobbying activity for a Ukrainian nonprofit that took place from 2012 to 2014. That same nonprofit, the European Centre for a Modern Ukraine, worked with Manafort.

Podesta's announcement about stepping down was made the same day that it was unveiled a federal grand jury charged Manafort and his associate Rick Gates for working to influence the U.S. government on behalf of pro-Russian factions in Ukraine.

Additionally, former campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopolous pleaded guilty to charges that he lied to FBI agents about his meetings with a professor he knew was tied to the Russian government who offered him "dirt" on Hillary Clinton.

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