I’ve been reading The Mueller Report about the investigation into matters related to Russian interference in the 2016 election. There are two volumes. Volume 1 deals with crimes related to Russian interference in our elections. It details incidents and evidence that supports charges against various individuals and entities for tampering with our elections. None of those charged are Americans or members of President Trump’s campaign or administration. It also deals with incidents and evidence of crimes discovered in the course of the investigation, in particular lying to Congress and lying to the FBI concerning an ongoing investigation. Several members of Trump’s campaign and administration were charged. Nevertheless, the investigation did not find evidence of collaboration between the Trump campaign and Russian-backed organizations or individuals who interfered in our elections. There were a couple of questionable incidents, but it was not clear that any laws were violated.

Volume 2, which I have not yet finished, deals with the President’s efforts to end the investigation. I will need more time to discuss it, so I will only say now that it does not exonerate the President. Far from it.