The Russia probe

The guilty plea of a former Trump campaign adviser and the indictment of two others should put to rest any notions that special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe is farcical, "fake news" or a fishing expedition.

In fact, the case against George Papadopoulos is the exact opposite. The onetime foreign policy aide has admitted he lied to the FBI about his interactions with Russian operatives trying to discredit Hillary Clinton. His plea shows he was trying to hide something from federal authorities and is now cooperating with them.

The conspiracy case against former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and assistant Rick Gates doesn’t directly pertain to the 2016 presidential campaign. Both men entered pleas of not guilty and are entitled to a presumption of innocence. But the charges — that they lobbied in Washington for a pro-Russia party in Ukraine without registering, laundered money for that party, and hid their fees from taxation — raise troubling issues.

If the charges are true, the two not only allegedly violated laws for personal profit but also undermined vital US national security interests. They abetted President Putin’s efforts to make Ukraine a Russian puppet state and expand his autocratic presence.

Mueller has brought serious charges. He must be allowed to do his job without interference.