Trump Allies Launch Legal Fund for Aides Hit by Russia Probes
- Patriot Legal Expense Fund Trust will operate as tax-exempt
- Trump, family, and staffers accused of crimes not eligible
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Allies of President Donald Trump have created a new fund to cover legal expenses for administration officials and associates caught up in Russia probes led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller and various congressional committees, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The project, named the Patriot Legal Expense Fund Trust, will operate as a tax-exempt political organization under section 527 of the tax code, according to documents posted to the website of the Office of Government Ethics. The fund, which is now running, was set up independently from Trump’s re-election campaign, according to the person who described the process on condition of anonymity.