Agent Zero
11-24-2017, 06:21 PM
Ostensibly, the fund is to assist his staff members obtain legal counsel prior to being witnesses in the Mueller investigation. Wouldn't this be considered "hush money"?
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-17/trump-to-pay-his-own-legal-bills-set-up-fund-to-cover-staff
The Office of Government Ethics and a tax firm are working on a mechanism for Trump to contribute to staffers’ legal bills that would meet regulatory and ethical standards, White House lawyer Ty Cobb said in an interview. The White House is hoping the issue will be resolved shortly, said Cobb, who declined to elaborate further on the details of the plan.
While there is no law barring a president from giving gifts to those who report to him, Trump’s case raises unique questions about whether his contributions could influence the testimony of staffers, said Walter Shaub, former head of the Office of Government Ethics who has criticized the president over other conflicts of interest.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-17/trump-to-pay-his-own-legal-bills-set-up-fund-to-cover-staff
The Office of Government Ethics and a tax firm are working on a mechanism for Trump to contribute to staffers’ legal bills that would meet regulatory and ethical standards, White House lawyer Ty Cobb said in an interview. The White House is hoping the issue will be resolved shortly, said Cobb, who declined to elaborate further on the details of the plan.
While there is no law barring a president from giving gifts to those who report to him, Trump’s case raises unique questions about whether his contributions could influence the testimony of staffers, said Walter Shaub, former head of the Office of Government Ethics who has criticized the president over other conflicts of interest.