Flynn's confession escalates Russia affair
Special Counsel Robert Mueller is closing in on US President Trump's inner circle in the Russia affair revolving around Moscow's alleged influence in Washington. Trump's former security adviser Michael Flynn admitted on Friday that he lied about his contacts with Russia. In the meantime media have reported that Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner encouraged Flynn to seek contact. What will these developments mean for the White House and the US's diplomatic ties with Russia?
No chance of a thaw
Flynn's confession will have little impact on the already deeply burdened US-Russian relations, political scientist Vladimir Frolov comments in the Moscow Times:
“The relationship between Moscow and Washington has deteriorated to such a historic low, that it's hard to see the depths to which it could sink further unless we all want to go to war - which we don't. ... The real impact of this multifaceted scandal on the U.S.-Russia relationship would be to push back any chance of a rapprochement until Mueller's investigation reaches some sort of conclusion. It is inconceivable that the Trump administration will change course on Russia in the absence of any major changes in Russia's posture and with Mueller's prosecutors scrutinizing every campaign email that contains the word 'Russia'.”
An easy target for the opposition
With its unclean methods the Trump team opened itself up to attacks from the opposition, Daily Sabah observes:
“If the accusations prove to be true it would mean that the Trump team took unnecessary risks. It could simply have waited for Trump to become president then lifted the sanctions and cooperated with Russia as much as it wanted to. Why the big hurry? Because the Democrats claimed that Trump won the election thanks to Russian interference in the campaign, and because from day one it was clear that these very same Democrats would do all they could to stop Trump doing his job in the White House. ... It even looks as if the established bureaucracy in the US has an agenda against the elected president.”
Trump still delights his fans
Despite everything Trump is stronger than one would think, Le Figaro contends:
“The Senate passing the tax reform was the first big success of the Trump administration. But the latest developments in the 'Russian affair' have spoiled the party. ... Trump's problem is his compulsive 'tweeteritis', but this is also his strength. It's a conscious choice, a strategy. More than ever he wants to strike out in new directions and bypass the media to address 'his people'. And his outrageous statements continue to delight his troops. For those who elected him, he remains the man of strong words who's not afraid to shake things up in Washington.”
Separation of powers is still intact
The current developments are hugely dangerous for Trump, tagesschau.de points out:
“True, impeachment proceedings are unlikely for the time being because they can only be initiated by the House of Representatives, and there the Republicans have a clear majority. Nevertheless Flynn's admission of guilt is an important turn of events: Trump's prognosis that the Russia investigations were 'fake news' and would soon blow over will not be fulfilled. On the contrary: Special Counsel Robert Mueller will investigate until the entire truth comes to light. That's good news for everyone who worried that Trump could upend American democracy. No: the US judiciary is doing its job and the separation of powers still works.”
Trump still has little to fear
The headlines about Russia contacts in the White House can't hide the fact that concrete proof is still lacking, Tages-Anzeiger points out:
“Even without Flynn the whole world knows that Russia tried to manipulate the American elections with a broad-based disinformation campaign: Clinton was to lose, Trump was to win. But the decisive question - did Trump know about or even help with this act of sabotage? - is still only a matter of speculation. ... There are indications that that could be the case. And perhaps Flynn knows the truth and will come clean. ... But as things stand now Mueller's accusations pertain mainly to offences that have little to do with last year's election campaign.”
Courtroom not the right arena for politics
In a commentary piece in Corriere della Sera diplomat Sergio Romano observes a worrying trend of criminalisation in US politics:
“The Italians are very familiar with this phenomenon and know how dangerous the consequences of the criminalisation of politics are. It spreads the feeling that democracy is rotten and faces prosecutors with tasks and functions that should be performed by politicians. Trump is a disquieting personality and probably unsuited for the office of president. But he can count on considerable political backing and he has many supporters who wouldn't accept impeachment proceedings. When the goal is to remove a president from office without fuelling tensions among the people, the ballot paper is a far more effective weapon than court rulings.”