I'll start with some background - introducing Mary Pat Bonner:

From the New York Times February 2015

The Secret World of a Well-Paid ‘Donor Adviser’ in Politics

A constellation of left-leaning nonprofits and “super PACs” are raising tens of millions of dollars to pave the way for Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential campaign — and nearly all of them have paid Mary Pat Bonner a cut.

Over the past several years, the groups, which include American Bridge 21st Century, Media Matters for America and the super PAC Ready for Hillary, have paid Ms. Bonner’s consulting firm in excess of $6 million to help them cultivate wealthy donors and raise money, according to tax filings and campaign disclosures.

Ms. Bonner’s contracts give her firm a commission, typically 12.5 percent, on any money she brings in. Her tenacity, ties to wealthy givers and mastery of making donors happy have made Ms. Bonner, 48, among the most successful practitioners of a trade that is virtually invisible to voters but has taken on immense power and influence in the post-Citizens United world.

The article says that political fundraising with commissions (as is the practice at the Bonner Group) is considered unethical according to the Association of Fundraising Professionals (members of AFP "shall not accept compensation or enter into a contract that is based on a percentage of contributions; nor shall members accept finder’s fees or contingent fees" link) But Ms. Bonner's roladex (and database on donating behavior) are apparently worth the large cut.

Brock apparently uses Bonner for all of his organizations. They are apparently sufficiently joined at the hip that NYT says she moved her business and staff into Brock's headquarters (although it says she continues to service additional clients). She and Brock apparently also share a rental in the Hamptons during the summer. Sounds pretty cozy on a lot of levels.

Now you have some background on the sender in this Wikileaks email to John Podesta dated December 23, 2015:

From:mpbonner@bonnergrp.com
To: john.podesta@gmail.com
Date: 2015-12-23 21:27
Subject: Jim Simons

John,

Hi, I wanted to let you know that I just hung up with Abe Lackman (Jim Simons advisor) who you will recall was at the first dinner you did for us. He wanted to collect more information on "Correct The Record"‎ to get Jim the information he needs to make a donation.

We have asked them to consider a donation of 500K or 1M.‎ I have explained to them that we need to raise and additional $15M this cycle on top of our regular budgets. I have also told them that Soros is giving us 1M a year (although this is part of a multi year commitment, not specific to CTR and Danny Abraham is making a donation in January although the amount is not determined.

As I am sure you know, Jim Simons just made a large commitment to Priorities (to be paid out in January and March).

He told me he is intending to call you on Monday to discuss the importance of CTR and their donation. ‎He is interested in the fact that CTR is a coordinated PAC that does not do any paid communication.

Please let me know if these is anything you need from us in relation to his call to you.

Thanks and I hope you have a great Christmas.

MP

The deal as set up by the Supreme Court is that there is SUPPOSED to be a separation between the fundraising functions of SuperPACs and a campaign. Podesta is the campaign. Mary Pat Bonner is the principle fundraiser for any of the Clinton SuperPACs which are connected to David Brock (read: nearly all of them).

So, the first question from this email is what's up with the dinner(s) Podesta did for whatever 'us' Bonner references? Sounds not entirely kosher.

Bonner is discussing here the discussion she's been having with a representative of a potential donor about contributions to Corrupt The Record - she's suggested between a half mil and a cool mil.

Keep in mind that the maximum contribution to a campaign is a measly $2700.

Two days ago, we learned that another leaked email revealed that Podesta has been interacting with SuperPAC donors by extending thanks:

Clinton Campaign Chair Personally Thanked Super PAC Donors

Memo crafted by Priorities USA staffer advised John Podesta on how to avoid illegal coordination

Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta personally thanked high-dollar donors to a Democratic Super PAC with which the campaign is legally prohibited from coordinating, according internal campaign memos.

The memos detail half a dozen scheduled Podesta phone calls to five-, six-, and seven-figure donors to Priorities USA Action, the most prominent Super PAC supporting Clinton’s presidential candidacy.

One of the memos, sent in February 2016 laid out ways that Podesta could give recognition to Priorities supporters while staying within the bounds of campaign finance laws that prohibit campaigns and their staff members from coordinating with outside spending groups that can raise and spend unlimited sums from individuals, corporations, and labor unions.

One of the emails linked in the above article had been forwarded from Denis Cheng, chief fundraiser for the Campaign. Presumably, the attachment was from the original email from Cheng - it provides guidance for Podesta in the interest of staying within-ish the law:

Talking Points for Thank You Calls to Priorities USA Action Donors

I wanted to thank you for your generous donation to Priorities USA Action. It really means a lot to me and Hillary.

Thanks to your support, Priorities will be able to do its vital work to help win in 2016.

Responses to Possible Questions

If donor asks whether s/he should make an additional contribution to Priorities USA Action: Due to federal legal restrictions, I can’t discuss future contributions. I just wanted to let you know how thankful I am for the generous contribution that you recently made.

If donor asks whether contribution to Priorities USA Action will be used in the race: As you know, we cannot coordinate with Priorities on how they spend their funds. However, they have a demonstrated record of spending funds wisely to keep the White House in Democratic hands and I am confident that will be the case in 2016.

Statements to Avoid

Do NOT ask donors for additional funds for Priorities USA or for any other Super PACs or nonprofits.

Do NOT ask donors to take a call from PAC personnel or tell them that PAC personnel will be following up. However, you may provide the donor with the contact information of a PAC representative, if they ask for it.

Those instructions were nearly certainly penned by the attorney for the Campaign, Marc Elias, although I haven't found a direct link from him for it.

But I do have a link for a different instruction sent by him eleven months previously on Perkins Coie (his law firm) letter head, even, which is an attachment to this email. It begins:

This memorandum describes how fundraisers may discuss Super PACs with campaign donors, in the event that Secretary Clinton becomes a “candidate.”

Short story is that there's a lot blurring of lines where Podesta and the campaign are concerned with respect to SuperPAC fundraising. Of course they know that the FEC is either powerless (or thinks it is) under the current membership, so part of their calculation is likely that even if they get called on the carpet, it won't be until after the election (by which time it will be too damn late to do anything at all). Absolutely the only things which matter to them is raking in big bucks and winning - two sides of the same coin as far as they are concerned. .