Outside lawyers are working on a way to help Trump campaign staffers cover legal expenses incurred in relation to the Russia investigation.
The fund, called the "Patriot Legal Expense Fund," is being looked to as a way to provide financial support for any legal bills incurred by any individual who "was an employee, consultant, fundraised or volunteer" on behalf of President Trump’s campaign, according to a document labeled “draft” that was posted on the Office of Government Ethics website.
The document, written by lawyers from Wiley Rein LLP, is dated Jan. 29, 2018, but it is unclear who started the fund or how much in assets the funds currently hold.
CNN:
The email exchange, which includes a draft agreement to establish the pool, was posted on the Office of Government Ethics website Thursday night. It describes the framework for the pool, which will "pay for or help defray legal expenses, which can include attorneys' fees, court filing fees, litigation costs or other related fees and costs," according to the document.
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So-called legal defense funds are typically established for the benefit of one person, according to government officials and lawyers familiar with these vehicles. The Patriot Legal Expenses Fund, however, can cover bills for multiple people, including current and former White House employees, as well as campaign officials.
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Anticipating the firestorm that the fund's novel design might ignite, White House counsel's office and the outside lawyers sought guidance from the Office of Government Ethics, which is supposed to function as independent watchdog.
In a statement, the agency said that it cannot "approve or disapprove of specific legal defense funds."
But the agency unofficially blessed the Patriots Legal Expense Trust Fund, noting it had met legal criteria to ensure government officials will not receive funds from "prohibited sources" such as lobbyists nor will the fund accept anonymous donations.
Legally, the fund cannot pay for President Trump or anyone in his immediate family.
CNN:
It is unclear, however, whether Trump could contribute to the fund that would pay for members of his staff or former campaign aides, as he has pledged to do.
Ethics office unofficially OKs legal defense fund for White House staffers (CNN)