If Donald Trump Is Innocent of Collusion With Russia, How Come He Keeps Acting So Guilty?

Trump reportedly dictated his son's false statement about the Russia meeting—but claims he has nothing to hide.

By Chauncey DeVega / Salon
August 2, 2017, 10:28 AM GMT


"Several weeks ago, Donald Trump Jr. publicly released emails that revealed his enthusiastic interest in receiving information from Russian sources that would be harmful to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. This information was part of an ongoing effort by Russia to undermine the American electoral system, with the apparent goal of installing Donald Trump as president.

As is standard operating procedure for the Trump administration, its officials repeatedly lied, dissembled and changed the story about Trump Jr.’s meeting with Russian representatives — at least one of whom previously worked as a spy for Russia’s intelligence agencies. The Washington Post is now reporting that the president himself was actively involved in explaining away his son’s meeting with Russian operatives. If this is true, Trump engaged in a coverup regarding his campaign’s collusion with Russia."

These newest revelations are part of a larger pattern.

"Some of Trump’s closest political advisers and allies are under investigation by the FBI and the Department of Justice for inappropriate and quite likely illegal connections with Russia. One of Trump’s most senior confidants, the now-disgraced former national security adviser Michael Flynn, appears to have been compromised by Russian agents.

Trump fired FBI Director James Comey in May, by the president’s own admission to stop the latter’s investigation into the Russia scandal. Trump apparently attempted to pressure senior members of the American intelligence community to shut down Comey’s investigation as well. They refused.

Trump has publicly chastised Attorney General Jeff Sessions for recusing himself from the Russia investigation, rather than intervening on the president’s behalf.

Trump has also threatened to stop special counsel Robert Mueller’s independent investigation into the Russia scandal if Mueller dares to investigate the Trump family’s finances.

It has been reported that Trump and his attorneys have actively explored whether the president can legally pardon himself, along with other members of his administration, if — or when, as seems increasingly likely — it is discovered that they colluded with Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign."

Rest of the opinion: http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/if-donald-trump-innocent-collusion-russia-how-come-he-keeps-acting-so-guilty

Simply put: how does anyone so innocent act so guilty?