Story highlights The White House is preparing for a long fight over the question of Russian influence during the 2016 election

Trump is expected to hire attorney Marc Kasowitz

Corey Lewandowski is a possible hire, but that could prove problematic

(CNN) Donald Trump and his senior White House aides are preparing for what they expect to be a prolonged and trying fight over whether the President, his campaign or his ring of associates had inappropriate contacts with Russian operatives during the 2016 election.

After initially dismissing the probe -- which has ballooned into a Justice Department inquiry led by special counsel Robert Mueller -- as nothing more than a politically motivated "witch hunt," the White House's top officials are beginning to realize that the drumbeat of stories about Russia could overshadow the administration's objectives for months, if not years.

Trump is expected to hire attorney Marc Kasowitz to represent him as part of a team on matters related to the inquiry into his campaign's alleged ties to Russia, according to a senior administration official and a person close to Trump. A source with knowledge of the matter told CNN the hiring process is not over and there are internal discussions on building out a team.

Trump and his aides have also discussed establishing a crisis communication effort led by advisers outside and inside the White House to combat allegations, sources tell CNN.

Corey Lewandowski, Trump's controversial former campaign manager, has been seen in the White House to discuss possibly becoming the administration's top adviser on crisis management as part of a broader effort to prepare for a long-term crisis related to the special counsel's investigation, sources said.

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