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President Donald Trump, shown in the Oval Office on February 14, 2018, had long expressed scepticism about Russian involvement in the 2016 election. Photo: TheWashington Post by Jabin Botsford

After indictments, Trump can no longer dismiss Russian meddling was a hoax

If Trump was still harbouring dreams of firing Mueller, doing so may now be politically impossible

Donald Trump

Donald Trump has insisted for more than a year that Russians didn’t try to get him elected. Special counsel Robert Mueller put an end to those claims on Friday, declaring definitively that they did.

A federal grand jury indicted 13 Russian nationals and a “troll farm” in St Petersburg, Russia, alleging a broad campaign to sway the 2016 election in Trump’s favour.

The indictment alleges that the operation was funded with US$1.25 million a month by companies controlled by a Russian businessman close to the Kremlin.

US charges 13 Russians with pro-Trump election meddling

The indictment means that Trump can no longer credibly cast doubt on alleged Russian election meddling. And if he was still harbouring dreams of firing Mueller or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, something many Republicans have warned against, doing so may be politically impossible.

File photo from June 20, 2017 shows special counsel Robert Mueller leaving after a closed meeting at the Capitol in Washington. Mueller put an to Trump’s claims that Russian meddling was a hoax on Friday, declaring definitively that they did. Photo: Getty images/AFP

The White House seized on Rosenstein’s declaration that Friday’s indictment didn’t allege “that any American had any knowledge” of the Russian interference, declaring “NO COLLUSION” in a statement. But the special counsel is still investigating whether Trump or his campaign colluded with the Russians, a person familiar with the matter said.

‘Putin’s chef’ among Russians indicted by Mueller for election meddling

The indictment reverberated from the White House and Congress across foreign policy and diplomatic circles. It represents a fundamental shift. The US intelligence community’s assertions that Russia interfered in the election, based on classified evidence never revealed to the public, was easily dismissed by Trump and his allies. Now there are concrete charges that Russians defrauded the US government, with memos and other evidence to back up the allegations.

‘Putin’s chef’ – Yevgeny Prigozhin, a wealthy Russian businessman and restaurateur – is among 13 Russians indicted by Mueller for US election meddling. Photo: AFP

Trump seemed to recognise the changed landscape himself.

In a Twitter post, he acknowledged a Russian “anti-US campaign,” and in the White House statement he called the country a “bad actor.” He has previously – and frequently – described allegations of Russian meddling in the election as “a hoax.”

His lawyers complimented Mueller in statements, though they used the past tense –“did” – to describe his work, suggesting optimism that the investigation has concluded.

Russia: US election meddling claims ‘blather’ without proof

It has not. Rosenstein, at his news conference, said nothing about future indictments.

Rosenstein said the indictment does not allege “that the charged conduct altered the outcome of the 2016 election.”

A federal grand jury indictment on February 16, charging 13 Russians and three Russian entities with an elaborate plot to interfere in the 2016 US presidential election, noted that beginning in June 2016, defendants and their co-conspirators organised and coordinated political rallies.

Trump’s political stature is entwined with the narrative he has built that Mueller’s investigation is a “witch hunt” precipitated by Democrats.

“No, Russia did not help me, that I can tell you,” Trump told supporters at an Alabama political rally in September. “Any Russians in the audience? I don’t see too many Russians.”

He’s also repeatedly cited personal assurances from Russian President Vladimir Putin in maintaining his scepticism.

After Russia meddling revelations, what can US do to stop a repeat?

“Every time he sees me, he says, ‘I didn’t do that,”’ Trump said after a November meeting with Putin in Vietnam. “And I believe – I really believe – that when he tells me that, he means it. I think he’s very insulted by it, if you want to know the truth.”

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