President Trump believes Special Counsel Robert Mueller is nearly finished with his investigation into Russian election meddling and alleged Trump campaign participation therein, The Washington Post reported Sunday afternoon in an article on the White House climate as Mueller's probe works "through the staff like Pac-Man."
White House lawyer Ty Cobb has assured the president Mueller will wrap things up and declare Trump himself innocent by early 2018 at the latest. (He initially predicted Mueller would be done by Thanksgiving but has adjusted that timeline.) "The president says, 'This is all just an annoyance. I did nothing,'" said an anonymous source the Post describes as "close to the administration." "[Trump] is somewhat arrogant about it. But this investigation is a classic Gambino-style roll-up. You have to anticipate this roll-up will reach everyone in this administration."
Many White House staffers have grimmer — and likely more realistic — expectations. "Of course they are worried," said an unnamed Republican operative in regular communication with the West Wing. "Anybody that ever had the words 'Russia' come out of their lips or in an email, they're going to get talked to. These things are thorough and deep. It's going to be a long winter."