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Family members: Michael Flynn facing major 'financial burden' over probes

By Allen Cone
Siblings of former national security adviser Michael Flynn have set up a legal defense fund to ease his "tremendous financial burden." File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Siblings of former national security adviser Michael Flynn have set up a legal defense fund to ease his "tremendous financial burden." File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Siblings of former national security adviser Michael Flynn have set up a legal defense fund to ease the "tremendous financial burden" they say he has tied to ongoing investigations.

"The enormous expense of attorneys' fees and other related expenses far exceed their ability to pay," Joe Flynn and Barbara Redgate, Flynn's brother and sister, said in a statement Monday. "To help ensure that he can defend himself, we have set up a legal defense fund, and we are asking Mike's supporters, veterans and all people of goodwill to contribute whatever amount they can to this fund."

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No funds will be accepted from foreign governments or from President Donald Trump's campaign or organization.

"All donated funds will be used solely to defray attorneys' fees and other costs related to legal representation," a website set up to accept funds states.

"Mike devoted 33 years of his life to our country serving in the United States Army, spending years away from his family while he fought this nation's battles overseas, including the War on Terror. Please help us to support Mike and his family now," Flynn's siblings added.

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Flynn, a retired general, was former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency and supported Trump during the 2016 campaign. He was national security adviser for 24 days before he was fired for "misleading" Vice President Mike Pence about contacts with Russian officials.

Flynn is being investigated by congressional committees and Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who's investigating purported Russian interference in last year's presidential campaign.

Rep. Elijah Cummings , D-Md., told ABC News his House Government Oversight Committee is looking into Flynn's foreign contacts in 2015 and 2016 that were not disclosed on security clearance forms. Those failures can potentially carry up to a five-year prison term.

Flynn, who has been silent publicly about the ongoing probes, thanked his brother and sister Monday morning on Twitter.

"Lori and I are very grateful to my brother Joe and sister Barbara for creating a fund to help pay my legal defense costs," Flynn wrote. "We deeply appreciate the support of family and friends across this nation who have touched our lives."

Their son, Michael G. Flynn, is a subject of the federal investigation into Russian meddling, according to four current and former government officials contacted by NBC News. His work with his father's lobbying firm, Flynn Intel Group, is the focus, the sources said.

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