Family members of former national security adviser Mike Flynn have set up a legal defense fund for the retired Army general as he remains a focus of federal investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
“Lori and I are very grateful to my brother Joe and sister Barbara for creating a fund to help pay my legal defense costs,” Flynn tweeted Monday. “We deeply appreciate the support of family and friends across the nation who have touched our lives.”
We deeply appreciate the support of family and friends across this nation who have touched our lives. https://t.co/O08co3DRpn 2/2
— General Flynn (@GenFlynn) September 18, 2017
Lori and I are very grateful to my brother Joe and sister Barbara for creating a fund to help pay my legal defense costs. 1/2
— General Flynn (@GenFlynn) September 18, 2017
Flynn is currently under investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller and several congressional committees for his ties to foreign governments, including Russia and Turkey.
Mueller and congressional investigators are also looking into possible collusion between Trump campaign officials and Russia.
Last year, Flynn and his company, Flynn Intel Group, were paid to do work that benefited the Turkish government, but the retired general wasn’t registered as a foreign lobbyist at the time. Flynn retroactively filed with the Justice Department earlier this year.
The former national security adviser was fired in February after he lied to Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with then-Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak.
Flynn has been asked to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee as part of its investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election, but he’s refused. The former national security adviser has handed over documents, including business and personal records, to the committee.
Flynn’s legal defense fund touts his military and private sector credentials, including his role as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, as well as military honors. The Michael T. Flynn Legal Defense Fund states Flynn was under consideration to serve as Trump’s running mate, but he was ultimately selected to serve as national security adviser.
“The costs of legal representation associated with responding to the multiple investigations that have arisen in the wake of the 2016 election place a great burden on Mike and his family,” the pitch to potential donors reads. “They are deeply grateful for considering a donation to help pay expenses relating to his legal representation.”
As the investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 election have ramped up and expanded to include former and current Trump officials, many involved are now struggling to pay the legal bills associated with the probes.
The Republican National Committee has been under pressure to help Trump campaign aides with mounting legal bills, and the Office of Government Ethics recently changed its guidelines to allow lobbyists to contribute anonymously to the legal defense funds of White House staffers, although it is unclear whether this will actually be permitted.
Some now caught up in Mueller’s probe, though, are not as well-known as Flynn and others who have recently hired lawyers, including former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus and Vice President Mike Pence.
