ROBERT MUELLER/RUSSIA INVESTIGATION/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “The White House attempted to dismiss a barrage of new developments in the Russia investigation Friday [12-7-18], saying the updates were not ‘of value’ and not related to the president. President Donald Trump also posted on Twitter, appearing to feel vindicated after special counsel Robert Mueller released new details in the criminal cases against Paul Manafort, the president’s former campaign chairman, and Michael Cohen, his former attorney and fixer…The new information released by the New York prosecutors and Mueller’s team, some of which was redacted and blacked out, did not accuse the president of colluding with Russia and did not reveal any new information as to whether the president was informed or played any role in the Russian effort to sow discord during the election. But, the documents do show Trump’s connection in some of the crimes, specifically alleging that the president directed Cohen to commit two felonies when he violated campaign finance laws. They also offer new insights as to the direction in which the probe is heading, something that could pose issues for the president and his family.”
–Louie Villalobos and Christal Hayes, “‘Thank you’: Donald Trump claims vindication after Mueller investigation updates,” USA Today, December 7, 2018 9:14 pm