It's over. It's just the beginning. The president is exculpated. He's still vulnerable. The special counsel now has affirmed the White House line. He still could be in the president's crosshairs.
The recent Justice Department indictment of 13 Russians and three companies gave great clarity to the role Russia played in the 2016 presidential contest, even as it raised vital questions about the security of the American political system and perhaps postponed a final reckoning — if not for Donald J. Trump then surely for questions of Russian involvement in the election.
kAm|2?J @7 E96 BF6DE:@?D H@?VE 36 2?DH6C65 :? E96 ?6IE H66<D[ 2?5 D@>6 >2J ?@E 36 2?DH6C65 7@C J62CD] qFE E96J 2C6 D:8?:7:42?E 7@C 5@>6DE:4 2?5 ?2E:@?2= D64FC:EJ C62D@?D[ 7@C E96J 92G6 :>A24E 3@E9 7@C E96 D2?4E:EJ @7 E9:D J62CVD >:5E6C> 6=64E:@?D 2?5 E96 a_a_ AC6D:56?E:2= 6=64E:@?[ 2?5 7@C =@?8\E6C> C6=2E:@?D 36EH66? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2?5 #FDD:2]k^Am
kAmw6C6 2C6 D@>6 @7 E9@D6 BF6DE:@?Dik^Am
kAm• $:?46 DA64:2= 4@F?D6= #@36CE |F6==6C 7@F?5 2 DJDE6>2E:4 2EE24< @? p>6C:42? 56>@4C24J[ 9@H 5@6D E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D C6DA@?5nk^Am
kAm}6G6C :? p>6C:42? 9:DE@CJ 92D 2 7@C6:8? ?2E:@? EC:65 H:E9 DF49 5:=:86?46[ A6CD:DE6?46 2?5 7:?2?4:2= C6D@FC46D E@ HC62< 92G@4 H:E9 @FC >@DE AC64:@FD A@=:E:42= AC@46DD — @?6 H9@D6 :?E68C:EJ 2DDFC6D :ED 72:C?6DD] xE :D ?@E 2=E@86E96C :C@?:4 E92E E96 7@C6:8? A@H6C E92E :?E6C76C65 H:E9 @FC 6=64E:@? 92D DF3DE2?E:2==J 5:776C6?E A@=:E:42= G2=F6D 2?5[ F?56C 4K2C 2?5 4@>>:DD2C 2D H6== 2D F?56C '=25:>:C !FE:?[ 92D AC24E:465 2 7@C> @7 A@=:E:4D :?:>:42= E@ @FC @H?]k^Am
kAm%96 AC6D:56?E 92D 76H @AE:@?D] w6 42? H:E95C2H 5:A=@>2E:4 C6=2E:@?D[ H9:49 :D F?=:<6=J] w6 42? :>A@D6 D2?4E:@?D[ H9:49 >2J 36 AC@G@42E:G6 3FE A6C92AD 2446AE23=J D@] w6 42? 7C66K6 @FE !FE:? 2?5 E96 #FDD:2?D :? :?E6C?2E:@?2= C6=2E:@?D 2?5 :? :?E6C?2E:@?2= 7@CF>D] qFE 2 AC6D:56?E H9@ 92D DA@<6? 23@FE Qp>6C:42 7:CDEQ DFC6=J H:==[ @C D9@F=5[ H2?E E@ AC6D6CG6 E96 7:CDE AC:?4:A=6D @7 p>6C:42]k^Am
kAm• (92E 5@6D E96 8C2?5 ;FCJ :?5:4E>6?E 5@ E@ E96 s6>@4C2E:4 ?2CC2E:G6nk^Am
kAmxE DFC6=J 5:DCFAED E96 DE@CJ E96 s6>@4C2ED 56DA6C2E6=J H2?E E@=5i E92E %CF>A 2?5 9:D 42>A2:8? 4@==F565 H:E9 E96 #FDD:2?D[ E92E E96C6 H2D 2 4@?46CE65 677@CE E@ F?56C>:?6 E96 42>A2:8? @7 w:==2CJ r=:?E@? 2?5 E92E E96 AC6D:56?EVD 6=64E:@?[ :7 ?@E :==68:E:>2E6[ H2D D6G6C6=J 4@>AC@>:D65] %96 yFDE:46 s6A2CE>6?EVD DA64:7:4 =2?8F286 E92E %CF>A 2DD@4:2E6D H6C6 QF?H:EE:?8Q :? 2?J 4@?E24ED E96J 925 H:E9 E96 #FDD:2?D 82G6 E96 AC6D:56?E C@@> E@ 4=2:> E92E E96 6?E:C6 s6>@4C2E:4 ?2CC2E:G6 92D 366? C67FE65]k^Am
kAm• xD E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 C6DA@?D6 A6CDF2D:G6nk^Am
kAm%96 AC6D:56?E D6:K65 FA@? E96 #FDD:2 56G6=@A>6?ED 3J AC@4=2:>:?8 Q%96 %CF>A 42>A2:8? 5:5 ?@E9:?8 HC@?8 — ?@ 4@==FD:@?PQ {2DE H66<6?5[ %62> %CF>A 3682? E@ C67:?6 :ED @H? ?2CC2E:G6[ 2C8F:?8 E96 bf\A286 :?5:4E>6?E AC@G6D E96C6 H2D ?@ 4@==FD:@? 36EH66? E96 #FDD:2?D 2?5 E96 42>A2:8? 2?5[ 7FCE96C[ E92E E96 24E:G:EJ 3682? F?56C q2C24< ~32>2] %96 4=62C :>A=:42E:@?i %CF>AVD AC65646DD@C H2D :?DF77:4:6?E=J 2EE6?E:G6 E@ E96 :?ECFD:@? @7 7@C6:8?6CD :?E@ E96 6=64E:@?]k^Am
kAm$@@? 2? 255:E:@?2= 2C8F>6?E 6>6C865i %96 #FDD:2? :?E6C76C6?46 5:5 ?@E 27764E E96 @FE4@>6 @7 E96 a_`e 6=64E:@? 3FE 5:5 4C62E6 492@D — 2 492@D E92E 92D 366? 2>A=:7:65 3J E96 s6>@4C2ED 2?5 E96 >2:?DEC62> >65:2[ H9@D6 A@=:E:42==J >@E:G2E65[ >2?F724EFC65 492@D H2D >@C6 52>28:?8 E92? E96 #FDD:2?\AC@5F465 492@D] r=62C=J[ 7@C 6G6CJ EC:A=6 E@6 =@@A @7 =@8:4 6>6C8:?8 7C@> E96 (9:E6 w@FD6[ E96C6 :D 2 BF25CFA=6 2I6= 7C@> E96 s6>@4C2ED]k^Am
kAm• xD E9:D 6A:D@56 7@==@H:?8 E96 4FDE@>2CJ (2D9:?8E@? D42?52= 4J4=6 2?5 A2EE6C?nk^Am
kAmw6C6 E96 Qp??2 z2C6?:?2Q AC:?4:A=6 2AA=:6Di tG6CJ D42?52= :D D42?52=@FD :? :ED @H? H2J] p?5 :? 6G6CJ 6A:D@56[ E96 2==6865 AC:?4:A2=D 2C8F6 E92E E96C6 :D ?@ D42?52= 2E 2==] %92E 46CE2:?=J 4@?7@C>D E@ E96 FDF2= A2EE6C?]k^Am
kAm~?6 255:E:@?2= 6=6>6?E @7 E96 4FDE@>2CJ A2EE6C? 2=D@ 4=62C=J 5@6D 2AA=Ji ~?46 DA64:2= 4@F?D6=D @C E96:C 6BF:G2=6?ED 86E :?G@=G65[ E96C6 :D ?@ AC65:4E23=6 @FE4@>6] %96 6IA6C:6?46 @7 #:492C5 |] }:I@? 2?5 q:== r=:?E@? 2C6 DF77:4:6?E 6G:56?46 7@C E9:D] }@ @?6 6IA64E65 E96 7:CDE AC@5F4E @7 E96 |F6==6C :?G6DE:82E:@? E@ 36 :56?E:EJ E967E[ 7@C 6I2>A=6] %96 7FEFC6 4@FCD6 @7 E96 |F6==6C :?G6DE:82E:@? =:<6H:D6 42??@E 36 D276=J @C 244FC2E6=J AC65:4E65]k^Am
kAm• xD E96 4C:D:D @G6C 7@C %CF>A[ @C :D :E ;FDE 368:??:?8nk^Am
kAmp AC:?4:A2= %CF>A 2C8F>6?E — E92E 7@C6:8? :?E6C76C6?46 :? E96 6=64E:@? H2D 2 Q7C2F5Q — ?@H :D C6?56C65[ E@ 3@CC@H 2 A9C2D6 7C@> (2E6C82E6[ :?@A6C2E:G6] |@C6@G6C[ |F6==6C 4=62C=J 36=:6G6D 96 92D >@C6 H@C< E@ 5@j E96 :?E6CG:6HD 96 92D 4@?5F4E65 DF886DE 96 92D DFDA:4:@?D :7 ?@E 4@?G:4E:@?D @7 H96C6 96 :D 9625:?8] w2G:?8 6DE23=:D965 :?E6C76C6?46 :? E96 6=64E:@?[ 9:D ?6IE DE6A >2J 36 E@ 6I2>:?6 7FCE96C E96 C6=2E:@?D9:A 2>@?8 >6>36CD @7 E96 %CF>A 72>:=J H:E9 E96 #FDD:2?D :?5:4E65 @C H:E9 @E96CD — 2?5 E@ D66< E@ 56E6C>:?6 H96E96C >6>36CD @7 E96 %CF>A 72>:=J @C 42>A2:8? =2E6C 42>6 E@ C64@8?:K6 @C 6?4@FC286 #FDD:2? :?E6C76C6?46]k^Am
kAm• xD E96C6 2 42C5 E92E 92D?VE 366? A=2J65 J6Enk^Am
kAm*6D[ E96C6 2C6 >2?J[ 2?5 @?6 @7 E96> :D 2 H9@AA6C] %CF>A 92D DA6?E >F49 @7 9:D (9:E6 w@FD6 E6?FC6 C2:=:?8 282:?DE E96 rxp 2?5 E96 uqx] w6VD ;FDE 366? 92?565 2?@E96C 3=F586@?i E96 uqxVD 42E2DEC@A9:4 >:DDE6A :? ?@E 7@==@H:?8 FA @? H2C?:?8D 23@FE E96 52?86C A@D65 3J }:<@=2D rCFK[ E96 E66? H9@ 3642>6 E96 u=@C:52 D49@@= D9@@E6C] %CF>A =2E6 =2DE $2EFC52J ?:89E FD65 E92E =6E92= 72:=FC6 E@ F?56C>:?6 E96 4C65:3:=:EJ @7 E96 uqx] (2E49 7@C 9:> E@ 2C8F6 E92E p>6C:42VD AC:?4:A2= 2?E:\4C:>6 :?DE:EFE:@? :D ?@E E@ 36 ECFDE65 2?5 ?665D E@ 36 @G6C92F=65]k^Am
kAm• (92EVD ?6IEnk^Am
kAm!C@323=J ?@E E96 5:D>:DD2= @7 |F6==6C[ H9@ 3J DE2<:?8 @FE 2? 62C=J D6E @7 492C86D 25565 DF3DE2?E:2==J E@ 9:D ;@3 D64FC:EJ] x7 E96 AC6D:56?E 7:?5D 4@>7@CE :? E96 :?5:4E>6?ED[ :E >2<6D :E >@C6 5:77:4F=E 7@C 9:> E@ 5:D>:DD E96 :?G6DE:82E:@? 2D 2 A@=:E:42==J >@E:G2E65 7C2F5 2?5 E9FD 72C 92C56C 7@C 9:> E@ 7:C6 |F6==6C] x? 255:E:@?[ :E H2D >F49 62D:6C E@ C6A=246 |F6==6C H9:=6 96 H2D AFC6=J 2? :?G6DE:82E@C] }@H 96 :D 2 AC@D64FE@C[ 2?5 2 8C2?5 ;FCJVD :?5:4E>6?E DE2?5D 2D DEC@?8 DF886DE:@? :7 ?@E 56G@FE 4@?G:4E:@? E92E 2E =62DE D@>6E9:?8 ?672C:@FD H2D 8@:?8 @?]k^Am
kAm%96 7@C642DE 7@C E96 H66<D 29625 :D 7@C >@C6 A@=:E:42= 4@>32E[ H:E9 E96 9@A6D @7 E96 s6>@4C2ED 4=2D9:?8 H:E9 E96 9@A6D @7 E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 2?5 H:E9 |F6==6C 7@CE:7:65 :? 9:D A@D:E:@?] ~?6 E9:?8 :D DFC6[ 9@H6G6C] %9:D :?G6DE:82E:@?[ 2?5 E96 7F== C6G6=2E:@? @7 #FDD:2VD :?G@=G6>6?E :? E96 a_`e 6=64E:@?[ :D ?@E J6E @G6C] p?5 H:E9 :>A@CE2?E >:5E6C> 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 6=64E:@?D =6DD E92? ?:?6 >@?E9D 2H2J[ E96 DE2<6D 7@C E96 |F6==6C E62>[ 7@C E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 2?5 7@C E96 s6>@4C2ED 4@F=5 ?@E 36 9:896C]k^Am
kAmk6>ms2G:5 |] $9C:3>2? :D 6I64FE:G6 65:E@C @7 E96 !:EED3FC89 !@DE\v2K6EE6] w6 42? 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>Qm5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>k^2m[ @C 7@==@H 9:> @? %H:EE6C 2E $9C:3>2?!v] %96 !F=:EK6C !C:K6\H:??:?8 ;@FC?2=:DE 92D 2 G242E:@? 9@>6 :? z62CD2C86]k^6>mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.