Google’s top lobbyist to step down

Google’s top lobbyist in Washington, D.C. is stepping down from her role as the company faces increasing pressure on Capitol Hill.

{mosads}Susan Molinari, a former congresswoman who has run Google’s domestic policy team for the last seven years, will become a senior adviser, building external relationships with members of Congress, members of political parties and state representatives.

She’ll remain in her current position through the end of the year.

“I was looking for the right time to step back and step away and now that we have a global policy leader, I am comfortable in making the transition. I will be in my current capacity through the end of this year and will transition to a senior advisor in 2019,” she said in an emailed statement.

Molinari’s departure comes amid tension between Google and lawmakers. Major internet companies have found themselves at odds with lawmakers over their data collection practices and foreign election interference on their platforms, and Republicans have accused them of being biased against conservatives.

Google has found itself in particularly hot water after it snubbed lawmakers’ requests for it to testify before Congress on election meddling.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai plans to testify before lawmakers before the end of the year.