Michael Flynn. Photo courtesy of RT.com.
Summary: Michael Flynn’s family has started a legal defense fund to help the retired general pay his Russian investigation defense team.
On Monday, the siblings of Michael Flynn banded together to launch a legal defense fund for their brother. Flynn is facing scrutiny from Robert Mueller’s Russia probe, and fighting the investigation has taken a financial toll on President Donald Trump’s former national security advisor.
Joe Flynn, Michael’s younger brother, told Fox News that his sibling’s legal bills are well into “seven figures.” He also said that the retired general has found the claims that he worked against the nation’s security interests to be “extremely difficult.”
“My brother, Michael, bleeds red, white and blue. No question about it … and one of the things that is most disturbing for myself and for the rest of our family members is to hear words like ‘traitor’ and to hear words like ‘turncoat,’” Joe Flynn said.
Robert Mueller is leading the investigation into whether or not Russia interfered with the 2016 Presidential Election in order to get Donald Trump elected. His team has already raided the home of Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and he is looking at other key figures in Trump’s inner circle, including Flynn, who resigned earlier this year.
According to Fox News, the launch of the legal defense fund “marks a significant development in the ever-expanding Russia probe.” The publication said that Flynn is the first to start a fund to help combat the costs of the investigation, and it is rumored that others who are being looked into may also do the same. This includes Vice President Mike Pence.
A Trump aide told Fox News that his or her legal bill has also run up. The unidentified source said they owe almost six-figures, and this is from a witness, not a target.
Flynn resigned in February after allegations that he had lobbied on behalf of the Turkish government during the transition from the Obama Administration to the Trump Administration. He allegedly lied to Vice President Pence about conversations with a Russian ambassador, and Pence said that he was “disappointed” with Flynn.
Flynn faces allegations of treason, and he has hired a legal team of six lawyers and support staff.
Joe Flynn said that it has been hard for his brother to seek help, but the patriotic man needs assistance.
“We are a proud family. But we pushed Michael because we knew it was the right thing for him to do. Because there’s a lot of people out there, despite what the media reports, that really love my brother … and appreciate all he has done for this country and are willing to help,” Joe Flynn said.
Joe Flynn also said that the public accusations of treason have been hard for Michael.
“Those are the things that a … highly decorated, three-star general has a very difficult time with. All the other kinds of stuff, he’s got thick skin, we are a, you know, blue-collar, Irish-Catholic family, we can put up with anything,” Joe Flynn said. “But hearing things like traitor, that’s extremely difficult.”
Michael Flynn’s legal defense fund will be run by volunteers, and Joe Flynn said that all money will go to Michael’s defense bills. He said that the fund will not accept anonymous donations, donations from foreigners, or donations from Trump-affiliated groups.
Source: Fox News
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