Trump to pay own legal fees for Russia probe

WASHINGTON – President Trump plans to pay “his own legal fees” related to the Russia investigation and is working on a plan to help current and former staff members pay their expenses, a White House attorney said Friday.

“The administration and others are working with the Office of Government Ethics and tax specialists to create a lawful mechanism for payment of fees for staffers,” White House lawyer Ty Cobb said.

Cobb said the ethics office must sign off on any plan.

Trump’s previous legal bills have been covered by the Republican National Committee.

There is no way to estimate the potential fees, given the potential length of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe.

Some critics of the administration have raised ethical concerns about Trump’s support of a fund for staff members, suggesting it could be seen as a way to influence their testimony.

The special counsel is looking at possible links between Trump associates and Russians who sought to influence last year’s presidential election.

Mueller is also looking at possible obstruction of justice in connection with Trump’s abrupt firing of FBI Director James Comey in May, who at the time was in charge of the Russia investigation.

Trump has denied any involvement with Russia and denounced the investigation as a witch hunt.

Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his business and campaign associate Rick Gates were recently indicted on charges they secretly worked on behalf of pro-Russian factions in Ukraine.