I seriously doubt the president colluded with any Russians, and he knows best what a completed investigation will reveal on that point. I do not have that same confidence level in his subordinates. As the president himself noted at one point, he needs to know if any subordinates were disloyal and involved a foreign power in our election. Insistence on a thorough vetting would be putting America first.

I naively thought Trump’s campaign was over when he slandered Republican Arizona Sen. John McCain’s service because he was captured with his body broken into pieces. It obviously was not. Now Trump is attacking another decorated war hero, Mueller, who despite being wounded in battle as a young man, kept heroically leading his troops. Since his military service, Mueller has spent decades in public service acclaimed by all — especially Republicans.

The efforts to delegitimize the investigation represent a precursor to ending the investigation by presidential fiat. We’re reading a page from Bill and Hillary Clinton’s playbook to attack those who investigate wrongdoing and witnesses who speak to that misconduct.