WikiLeaks: Google Chairman Wanted Big Role With Clinton Campaign

In response to an email from eventual Hillary Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook, John Podesta—now the Democratic presidential nominee’s campaign chairman—wrote that he had met with Google parent company head Eric Schmidt to discuss the eventual campaign.

The email, dated April 2, 2015, predates the official announcement of Clinton’s campaign by more than a month. In it, Podesta writes:

Robby,

I met with Eric Schmidt tonight. As David reported, he’s ready to fund, advise recruit talent, etc. He was more deferential on structure than I expected. Wasn’t pushing to run through one of his existing firms. Clearly wants to be head outside advisor, but didn’t seem like he wanted to push others out. Clearly wants to get going. He’s still in DC tomorrow and would like to meet with you if you are in DC in the afternoon. I think it’s worth doing. You around? If you are, and want to meet with him, maybe the four of us can get on the phone in the am.

JP

Mook was apparently on a trip to Australia at the time. He said he would be willing to take part in a conference call to discuss the matter. Podesta responded with the following:

Let me ck on call. Otherwise we’ll do after your return. The thing he really pressed me hard on was geography. Very committed to the idea that this be done in a city where young coders would want to be, preferably outer borough NYC. Thought No Cal was priced out of the market and too into itself. Thought DC lacked talent in this arena.

Google has been criticized throughout the election cycle for burying webpages that were beneficial to Clinton’s opponents, while moving information beneficial to her own campaign to the top of searches. While this email doesn’t indicate any collusion of that type, it does signify the eagerness of the company’s top executive in playing a role to help get Clinton elected.