The Trump White House is buried deep in a snowdrift of paranoia, Politico reports, following the news that former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn will cooperate with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe. While President Trump himself has reportedly been convinced by his lawyer that Mueller will finish his investigation and declare the president innocent by January, his staff is not so easily reassured.
"Everyone is paranoid," an unnamed "person close to Trump's White House" told Politico. "Everyone thinks they're being recorded" by unknown traitors in their midst, colleagues who have secretly flipped and donned a wire for the Mueller team. The fear is not unfounded, as included in Mueller's plea deal with Flynn was a note that Flynn might be "participating in covert law enforcement activities" as part of the arrangement, ample base for speculation that other Trump staff, desiring to ensure their own immunity, could do the same.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
What is cloud seeding and did it cause Dubai's severe rainfall?The Explainer The future is flooded
-
American Airlines pilots are warning of a 'significant spike' in safety issuesIn the Spotlight The pilot's union listed 'problematic trends' they say are affecting the airline's fleet
-
6 star-spangled presidential libraries to visitThe Week Recommends These institutions provide insight into American leaders
-
Ukraine cheers House approval of military aidSpeed Read Following a lengthy struggle, the House has approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spiesSpeed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrikeSpeed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claimsSpeed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claimsSpeed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aidSpeed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of warSpeed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picksSpeed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
