Former Trump associates forced to run GoFundMe campaigns after being swamped with legal bills

Former aides of Donald Trump are increasingly turning to crowdfunding in order to pay their legal bills associated with their proximity to the president.

According to Axios, both former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and Trump's personal attorney, Michael Cohen, have each gone hat in hand to the public as their legal problems multiply while being investigated by special counsel Robert Mueller.

In the case of Cohen, who recently flipped on Trump by implicating him in federal crimes related to illegal campaign contributions, he is facing criminal charges at the federal level as well as from the state of New York.

Axios reports that Cohen's plea for cash at GoFundme states, "On July 2, 2018, Michael Cohen declared his independence from Donald Trump and his commitment to tell the truth. On August 21, Michael Cohen made the decision to take legal responsibility and to continue his commitment to tell the truth. Michael decided to put his family and his country first. Now Michael needs your financial help -- to pay his legal fees."

To date, the attorney's "Michael Cohen Truth Fund" has raked in just short of $170,000.

In the case of Flynn, who is reportedly also working with investigators in an effort to secure a plea deal, his family set up a defense fund website.

"The costs of legal representation associated with responding to the multiple investigations that have arisen in the wake of the 2016 election place a great burden on Mike and his family. They are deeply grateful for considering a donation to help pay expenses relating to his legal representation," the pitch reads, accompanied by a glowing portrayal of Flynn as a military man who served his country.

Trump associates Cohen and Flynn aren't the only ones who have sought help from the highly-polarized public.

Andrew McCabe, the former deputy director of the FBI who was unceremoniously fired just short of retirement by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, also went the public funding route, raising more than half a million dollars to helpmpay for a legal challenge to his dismissal.

In a statement, McCabe said, "Hopefully our efforts, fueled by this incredible support, will encourage others to stand up for themselves, and the truth, as well. It is not lost on me that each contribution reflects not just someone’s well wishes, but also their acknowledgment that something in this situation is not fair or just.”

You can read the report here.