Week Ahead: Trump Aims To Dismiss Russia Probe As Partisan; Can He Get His Taxes Win?
A day after Michael Flynn, President Trump's former national-security adviser, was ensnared — and apparently flipped — in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe, another story leaked: "Mueller Removed FBI Agent From Russia Probe Over Anti-Trump Messages."
Coincidence?
In a week when Republicans are trying to get a tax overhaul bill to the president's desk for the first piece of major legislation he would sign (more on that below), that story gives the White House a much-needed talking point, as the president is again being threatened by the Russia investigation. In response, Trump and his allies are undertaking an all-out effort to undermine Mueller's work — and the FBI itself.
The Russia investigation
Mentioning the anti-Trump texts on ABC's Sunday, Chris Ruddy, the CEO of the conservative site Newsmax and a Trump friend, said Mueller represents an "existential threat" and is racking up charges at "lightning speed. ... You get a picture that this group is out to get the president." (Remember, Ruddythat Trump was considering firing Mueller, which the White House denied at the time.)
