Trump allies pushing RNC to cover legal fees of Russia investigations

Top allies to President Trump are pushing the Republican National Committee (RNC) to cover legal fees related to the investigations into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

The Washington Post cited three sources close to Trump’s legal team that indicated a “robust” discussion about the RNC covering the legal fees for Trump and his senior White House aides was taking place. The RNC declined the Post’s requests for comment.

According to the report, the RNC has yet to make a decision on whether it will cover the legal fees of Trump, senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner and other top White House staff, but many inside the organization are resisting the effort by Trump’s allies.

The RNC does keep a legal defense fund that predates the Trump-Russia investigation, but it is typically used for legal defenses for the party itself rather than individual members.

{mosads}The White House has not said publicly who is funding the legal defenses for Trump, Kushner and other officials. In May, Trump retained top New York attorney Marc Kasowitz, who represented him in the Trump University case, to defend him as the Russia investigation proceeds.

Kasowitz made headlines Thursday for threatening a critic in a profane chain of emails.

“I’m Jewish. I presume you are too. Stop being afraid. Call me. Or give me your number and I will call you,” Kasowitz wrote in emails leaked to ProPublica. “I already know where you live, I’m on you. You might as well call me. You will see me, I promise, bro.”

“You don’t know me, but I will know you,” Kasowitz added. “How dare you send me an email like that. I’m on you now. You are f—ing with me now. Let’s see who you are. Watch your back, b—-.”