A Russian Mole?
In the Oval?
Donald J. Trump certainly had a stunningly divisive first term in the White House, if you listen to his critics. There are many, certainly. And the Trump track record is amply littered with numerous examples of political malfeasance.
From the earliest days of his Administration, Mr. Trump was credibly accused of colluding with Russians to defeat his political opponent, Hillary Rodham Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. Trump’s National Security Advisor, General Michael Flynn, even pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about discussions with Russian leadership, although Flynn is now trying to withdraw that guilty admission.
The President obstructed Congress in its investigation of his decision to withhold $400 million in U.S. military aid for Ukraine in their ongoing skirmish with Russia unless Ukraine’s new president agreed to investigate his 2020 presidential election opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden.
President Trump was Impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives for obstruction and abuse of power in the Ukrainian matter. The Senate did not convict the President using the nefarious excuse of not calling supporting fact witnesses.
Despite overwhelming evidence, corroborated by the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence chaired by North Carolina Senator Richard Burr, that Russia meddled in the 2016 and 2018 U.S. elections, President Trump has largely ignored calls by Republicans and Democrats alike on Capitol Hill to sanction the former Soviets for their interference in American democracy. It appears that Russia may now be meddling in the 2020 U.S. elections as well if recent intelligence reports are to be believed, although President Trump is once again dismissing the mounting evidence.
Mr. Trump has claimed to have absolute authority over the U.S. House of Representatives despite what Article I and Article II of our Constitution stipulate about shared powers and checks and balances. Mr. Trump is further undermining the U.S. Constitution, it would appear, by firing Inspectors General at various federal agencies, refusing oversight inquiries from committees of Congress, and flouting the rule of law.
The President is and has been frequently attacking our closest allies and relationships many of which were forged in the trying days of World War II. The 45th president has undermined our alliances with the British, French, and Germans, for example. He has debased NATO, the United Nations, and the World Health Organization. Mr. Trump has unilaterally canceled out of several important accords and canceled long-standing arms-related treaties with the Russians, in a manner that favors the Russians.
So many of these Trump actions appear to benefit the Russian government at the expense of the United States public that some are now questioning: Is President Trump a Russian mole in the Oval Office, as has been rumored in some quarters? Is Mr. Trump Vladimir Putin’s man on the inside, dismantling our institutions of power? Thumbing his nose at our rule of law?
