by Brynn Smith ’19

With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1989 and the end of the Cold War, 44 years of tension and strife between Russia and the United States looked as if it was coming to a close. But with pretty damning evidence that the 2016 presidential election was hacked, Russia is the prime suspect.

In May of 2017, Robert Mueller, the FBI Director during the Bush and Obama administrations, was appointed to supervise the special investigation into Russia’s alleged meddling in the 2016 election. Mueller, supported by an independent budget and, initially, the backing of both the Democrat and Republican parties, is investigating not only Russia’s dealings in the election but links between Moscow and the Trump administration.

Mueller’s straightforward mission, however, has been roiled in partisan politics from the start. Ever since Mueller started looking into the Trump Administration and its possible dealings with Russia, some of Trump’s most ardent supporters have made it their goal to discredit Mueller. This has caused a major rift in the GOP party. Jeff Sessions, Trump’s current Attorney General, was the first to look into Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 election. But after revelations that he held two undisclosed meetings with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, Sessions excused himself from the investigation. Rod Rosenstein, Deputy Attorney General, took his place, and then the Justice Department appointed Mueller to lead the examination of Russian government officials and members of the Trump Administration. In almost every instance that Trump is asked about Russian involvement in the U.S. election, the president uses two words. “No collusion.”

With the official title of Special Counsel, Mueller has officially indicted several people in the Trump Administration with ties to the Russian government. Currently, four former Trump employees have been indicted with colluding with Russia. Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign manager, and Rick Gates, deputy on the Trump campaign, were charged in October for conspiracy to launder money, making false statements and other charges in connection with Russia.

While both Manafort and Gates pleaded not guilty, George Papadopoulos, Trump’s foreign policy advisor, was a different matter. Pleading guilty to making false statements to the FBI about interactions with foreign nationals, Papadopoulos faces prison time. The most prominent of the four men charged is Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security advisor. Flynn also admitted to lying about conversations with the Russian Ambassador. With Mueller following the evidence, no one knows who is going to be indicted next. In early January, Trump’s lawyers publicly revealed that Mueller intends to interview the president.