by BILL POWELL
“COLLUSION DELUSION” After nearly two years of investigation, the special counsel found no evidence that Trump coordinated with Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/GETTY
“COMPLETE AND TOTAL EXONERATION.” Donald Trump’s words echoed across Washington on a Sunday afternoon in late March as Attorney General William Barr revealed the long-awaited conclusions of the Russia-gate probe. Indeed, after nearly two years of investigation into Kremlin interference in the 2016 campaign, special counsel Robert Mueller had found no collusion. And while, according to Barr, Mueller carefully noted that his report did not completely exonerate Trump on the charge of obstruction of justice, the president blew through the legalese, knowing the distinction would make no difference to much of the American public and certainly not to his loyal Republican base. “It’s a shame that our country had to go through this,” he said before boarding Air Force One for the nation’s capital after a weekend of golf at his Mar-a-Lago resort. “To be honest, it’s a shame your president had to go through this.”