Consciousness of guilt
Why has President Trump spent two years trying to halt, control, and discredit the Russia investigation?
This is the editor's letter in the current issue of The Week magazine.
Before he was muzzled for excessive candor a few weeks ago, Rudy Giuliani made a startling concession. "I never said there was no collusion between the campaign" and Russia, President Trump's lawyer said. He was only saying that Trump himself hadn't colluded with Russia. The reasons for this tactical retreat have become obvious. Last week, a federal judge ruled that former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort had repeatedly lied to prosecutors about his contacts with a Russian agent, Konstantin Kilimnik. As campaign chairman, Manafort gave Kilimnik "very detailed" polling data and discussed a "peace plan" for Ukraine favorable to Vladimir Putin. Special counsel Robert Mueller's team also revealed last week that it had proof that Trump adviser Roger Stone had direct contact with Russian hackers who stole Democratic emails and with WikiLeaks, which later published them. During this time, Stone admits, he frequently spoke to his pal Trump.
During trials, prosecutors often cite a legal concept called "consciousness of guilt." When a defendant repeatedly lies about his behavior or orchestrates a cover-up, it suggests he knows he committed crimes. Soon after he took office, Trump took extraordinary steps to halt the investigation into Russia's attack on the election, and celebrated his firing of FBI Director Jim Comey with Russia's grinning ambassador in the Oval Office, saying "great pressure" had been "taken off." Trump's obstruction was so flagrant, former FBI acting director Andrew McCabe reveals in a new book, it led top FBI and Justice Department officials to wonder if the president was "a Russian asset." Over the past two years, Trump has publicly attacked the Russia investigation more than 1,100 times. He has berated a succession of underlings for failing to protect him from Mueller and other investigations. What does this indicate about what Trump thinks about his innocence or guilt?
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
William Falk is editor-in-chief of The Week, and has held that role since the magazine's first issue in 2001. He has previously been a reporter, columnist, and editor at the Gannett Westchester Newspapers and at Newsday, where he was part of two reporting teams that won Pulitzer Prizes.
-
Are 'judge shopping' rules a blow to Republicans?
Today's Big Question How the abortion pill case got to the Supreme Court
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Climate change is driving Indian women to choose sterilization
under the radar Faced with losing their jobs, they are making a life-altering decision
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
'A great culture will be lost if the EV brigade gets its way'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Cubans rally for 'power and food' in rare protests
Speed Read The protests came after 18-hour rolling blackouts and food supply shortages
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Iran at the crossroads: have the mullahs lost their grip?
In Depth Iranian voters delivered a 'stinging rebuke' to the regime in parliamentary elections
By The Week UK Published
-
The state of Russian opposition after Navalny
The Explainer Potential challengers to Vladimir Putin have been jailed, exiled or barred from ballot
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Haiti leader agrees to exit amid growing chaos
speed read Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced his resignation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Zelenskyy says 31,000 troops dead in 2 years of war
Speed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave a rare official military death toll
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published