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Union Raises Money to Help US Diplomats Pay Impeachment Legal Bills

Reuters

   WASHINGTON - The union representing U.S. diplomats said on Monday it
   has raised tens of thousands of dollars in the last week alone to help
   defray the legal costs of foreign service officers who have testified
   in U.S. President Donald Trump's impeachment inquiry.

   The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) also issued a statement
   defending U.S. diplomats after Trump criticized several of those who
   have appeared before Congress and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has
   said nothing specific in their support.

   "These patriots go abroad to every corner of the world and serve the
   interests of the American people," AFSA President Eric Rubin said in a
   statement. "They do so with integrity and have no partisan or hidden
   agenda."

   "We should honor the service of each and every one of them."

   Separately, Rubin said: "We have raised tens of thousands of dollars in
   the past week alone" in the union's Legal Defense Fund to help defray
   lawyers' bills. He did not provide details.

   One person caught up in the inquiry said he had already run up a legal
   bill of more than $25,000.

   Neither the State Department nor the White House responded to requests
   for comment. A State Department spokesperson has previously said the
   agency planned to provide legal assistance to employees called to
   testify but did not give details.

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