RUSSIA INVESTIGATION/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “A day after President Donald Trump was cleared of colluding with Russia, White House officials responded with a mixture of ecstatic relief — and plans for revenge. While Trump insisted for months that he would be vindicated by special counsel Robert Mueller, some of his aides weren’t so sure. That made a Sunday summary of Mueller’s still-confidential report from Attorney General William Barr a huge exhale moment for many people around Trump. But beneath the relief — which could be premature, given that the full details of Mueller’s findings remain unknown — is an undercurrent of rage at Trump’s accusers in the media and Democratic Party, whom Trump aides believe amplified wild charges about his links to Russia and his alleged efforts to obstruct justice…Democrats and media figures call such talk unfounded, arguing that while Mueller may not have found clear evidence of criminality by Trump, his formal report likely contains many details of improper conduct. Mueller’s probe also caused several Trump associates to be charged with or convicted of serious crimes and has spawned other major federal investigations still underway.”
–Gabby Orr, Daniel Lipmann and Caitlin Oprysko, “Trump aides relieved, elated — and out for payback,” Politico, March 25, 2019 8:47 pm