JUSTICE DEPARTMENT/RUSSIA INVESTIGATION/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Trump went on the offensive on Monday [3-25-19] a day after the special counsel investigation reported no conspiracy with Russia, suggesting that critics who pursued such suspicions were ‘treasonous,’ guilty of ‘evil things’ and should be investigated themselves. Grim faced and simmering with anger, Mr. Trump repeated his assertion that a collection of partisan foes had effectively conspired to try to disrupt or even end his presidency with false allegations about his campaign’s ties with Moscow in 2016…The president’s comments expanded on the theme he expressed on Sunday [3-24-19] after the Justice Department reported that the special counsel investigation by Robert S. Mueller III had wrapped up without finding a criminal scheme to influence the presidential election in tandem with Russia’s government. With the Mueller inquiry behind him, Mr. Trump seems intent on turning the tables on his foes. Mr. Trump took a softer line toward Mr. Mueller himself. Asked at an earlier appearance with Mr. Netanyahu on Monday whether Mr. Mueller had acted honorably, Mr. Trump said, ‘Yes, he did. Yes, he did.’”
–Peter Baker, “Trump Blames ‘Treasonous’ Critics for Russia Inquiry,” The New York Times online, March 25, 2019