Panicking White House Is Setting Up Legal Defense Fund To Cover Costs Of Russia Investigation

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As the costs continue to grow and Robert Mueller’s investigation gets increasingly closer to Donald Trump himself, the White House is now organizing a legal defense fund for vulnerable White House staffers.

According to The Daily Beast, the costs associated with the special counsel investigation “are expected to be large.”

More from the report:

In a reflection of how serious the administration is taking the matter, sources tell The Daily Beast there are currently efforts underway to organize a legal defense fund for White House staffers. Such a fund would help cover the legal bills associated with Mueller’s probe, which are expected to be large. A Washington white collar attorney told The Daily Beast that everyone questioned by Mueller will likely need to retain counsel. Those lawyers will likely bill between $500 and $1000 per hour.
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The report went on to explain that two key figures in the Russia investigation who are no longer with the administration are actually struggling to pay their legal fees.

“In most cases, third parties can pay for federal workers’ legal defense funds,” the Daily Beast reported. “As The Daily Beast reported in August, Paul Manafort and Michael Flynn—two targets of the probe—are already facing significant financial strain because of high legal bills.”

The news comes as White House Communications Director Hope Hicks has reportedly lawyered up and a handful of other top Trump aides are being targeted by Mueller.

As the special counsel investigation into Trump’s ties to Russia continues to pick up steam and more in the administration are targeted, it’s clear the scandal isn’t going anywhere – and neither are the mounting legal fees.

Sean Colarossi

Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.