Punked by Putin
Neither party treating probe as seriously as it should
RIGHT and left, we are disgracing ourselves. The alleged Putin-Trump connections cut to the heart of our republic. Even the faintest possibility that a hostile power infiltrated a presidential campaign and, consequently, an administration, demands a sober, thorough investigation that puts our national interest above party politics.
All Americans should demand the truth about this matter. It’s about the integrity of the foundation of our system of government, free national elections.
Instead, we have Democrats out to “get” Trump and Republicans, like Rep. Devin Nunes (RCalif.), who shut their eyes and cover their ears against any disturbing evidence.
After mocking Mitt Romney’s warning about Russia, Democrats abruptly discovered that Vladimir Putin isn’t FDR reincarnated. Meanwhile, Republicans who built careers on noisy patriotism have decided Putin ain’t so bad. What have we come to? The evidence publicly available regarding the charges of Trump campaign collusion with Russia, or simply of Russian influence, remains circumstantial. At the same time, the amount of that circumstantial evidence is unprecedented. The number of figures affiliated with the Trump campaign known or suspected to have had frequent contact with Russians associated with the Putin regime does not fall under “business as usual” or “everybody does it.”
There may be legitimate, or at least legal, explanations for every connection, but to dismiss this issue with snide remarks about Russian dressing on a dinner salad (as Press Secretary Sean Spicer did Tuesday) veers too close to propaganda for me.
The allegations against campaign operatives matter. This is about how we, the people, will be governed.
When Democrats view investigations merely as payback for the Benghazi scandal, their behavior’s un-American. But when Republicans corrupt and subvert investigations because a president’s “their guy,” that’s unAmerican, too. Remember who we’re dealing with. Putin hates our country. He’s brilliant, forever underestimated by Westerners and utterly unscrupulous. He murders political opponents. His military wantonly slaughters civilians. He invaded his neighbors and occupied their territory.
He’s allied with Iran and supports the Taliban in Afghanistan. He destroyed Russia’s nascent democracy. He’s poisoned and paid off political movements in Europe so extensively that some leading politicians, such as France’s far-right firebrand Marine Le Pen, openly embrace Russian support.
Putin’s the enemy of all that our leaders, right and left, profess to believe in as our ideals. If President Trump’s convinced that the charges against his associates are untrue, he should be in the forefront of those demanding a thorough investigation.
And no, leaks aren’t the fundamental problem. They’re a result. As a former intelligence officer, I despise “government by leaks.” I’d put leakers of classified data in jail.
But I also recognize that, with- out misdeeds, there’s nothing to leak. And Republicans were delighted with leaks that undercut the Obama administration.
As our Russian “friends” would put it: “Shto Dyelat?” What’s to be done?
Congress must stop attempting to influence or prematurely reveal FBI investigations. It’s unfashionable, but I have great faith in the bureau’s field agents and their leadership. The FBI is methodical and slow, but that’s why it’s so effective. FBI personnel are superb at counter-espionage work. Let them do their jobs.
The House of Representatives has irreparably compromised its ability to conduct a credible investigation. An independent, nonpartisan investigative committee is required.
As an indication that all Americans stand together against foreign subversion, Congress should toughen economic sanctions on Russia immediately.
Trump should release his unedited tax returns for the past 10 years. And he needs to call out Putin, instead of bullying allies.
We need to know the truth, whatever it may be.
If Putin penetrated a presidential campaign and left an administration beholden to him, it would be the most impressive espionage-and-subversion success since Joshua slipped his spies in and out of Jericho.
That didn’t end well for Jericho.