Editorial: It's the Olympics for Trump apologists

Senator James Risch of Idaho also tried the “I hope” excuse. “Do you know of any case where a person has been charged for obstruction of justice or, for that matter, any other criminal offense, where this — they said, or thought, they hoped for an outcome?” he asked Mr. Comey, who said he’d taken “I hope” as a “direction.” (And yes, people have been charged on that basis.)

Marco Rubio, whom Mr. Trump ridiculed on the campaign trail, has sidled ever closer to his former adversary. He chided Mr. Comey for not clearing Mr. Trump. “You ever wonder why of all the things in this investigation, the only thing that’s never been leaked is the fact that the president was not personally under investigation?” he asked. Actually that information was leaked — by Mr. Trump, in his letter firing Mr. Comey.