Jamie Kirchick: “The ‘collusion’ narrative is doing the Russians’ dirty work for them” (WaPo)
“In their haste to brand President Trump a tool, they’re unwittingly doing the Russians’ work for them: validating the notion that our democracy is a sham,” Kirchick writes. “While Russia clearly preferred Trump to Clinton, so far no one has produced conclusive evidence showing that the Trump campaign colluded with the Russian government.”
Dave Bowyer: “Trump’s ex-lawyer Dowd discussed pardons with Flynn, Manafort: Report” (Washington Times)
“The president’s lawyer in the White House working on the special counsel probe, Ty Cobb, said no pardons have been discussed. ‘I have only been asked about pardons by the press and have routinely responded on the record that no pardons are under discussion or under consideration at the White House,’ Mr. Cobb said in a statement.”
Brandi Buchman: Mueller Seeks Protective Order of Discovery in Manafort’s Va. Case (Courthouse News)
“Special Counsel Robert Mueller and attorneys for former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort can agree on one thing – any evidence unearthed in discovery should be privy to a protective order.”