Not to be snarky, but the guy sitting next to Carlin looks like he could be the lovechild of these two gentlemen.
That is to say, he fits the mold of a 'cyber security professional'.
Same cheesy plaid blazer and no tie look even.
No luck with anyone else yet.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/samarmarwan/2017/07/11/crowdstrike-helped-trace-the-dnc-hack-to-russia-now-business-is-booming/
Not circled, but the man seated next to EPN is Frank A. Bennack Jr., chairman of the Paley Center, exec vice chairman & ex-CEO (30 yrs) of the Hearst Corporation and one of the trustees of the Wm Randolph Hearst fortune. Hearst runs the SF Chronicle & Houston Chronicle among many other media assets.
Oldguard Newsguy. Here he is with Hearst lobbyist Heather Podesta, Tony's ex-wife.
https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=549681&privcapId=165238
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearst_Communications
>Was it a Carlin op, or a Mueller op?
Could it ultimately have been a James Baker op, Baker being Poppy's consigliere? Baker was in the room when GHWB kicked the bucket.