House Speaker Pelosi claims, with respect to Trump’s conduct, all roads lead to Putin. Is she right ? Let’s flashback and see.

During the FBI investigation of possible Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential election coupled with possible coordination of that meddling between Trump’s campaign and Moscow, Trump asks FBI Director Comey to lay off of Michael Flynn, his National Security advisor, and a person of interest in the election probe. Soon after, Trump fires Comey over the ‘ Russia thing’(meaning investigation) as broadcast on the news. The following day Trump has a White House meeting, closed to the American press, with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Kisylak. The three have a chuckle over Comey’s dismissal; a firing, as quoted by Trump, that gives himself great relief from the pressure felt by the investigation. Trump alarmingly conveys to them his unconcern over Russian meddling in our elections since America does the same thing ( Trump declares open season for Russia or any foreign nation to sabotage our elections, the cornerstone of our democracy).

Shockingly Trump provides them highly classified intelligence info concerning an Islamic State terrorist threat with details. Such info is potentially beneficial for Russian spy services at the expense of undermining our nation’s espionage capabilities. All this was brought to light in much greater detail by good news reporting.

In Helsinki at a news conference on the world stage Trump, standing side by side with Putin, traitorously takes Putin’s word of denial of any Russian meddling in our 2016 Presidential election over the findings of our very own intelligence community; irrefutable evidence that Russia waged a widespread and systemic cyberattack on our election process to support Trump’s candidacy.

What about our sanctions on Russia. As per the Guardian news outlet, in January 2019 Trump lifts sanctions on three Russian companies including the aluminum giant Rusal all of which are linked to the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, a close ally to Putin.

Next stop is the G-8 summit. This is an inter-government political forum where leaders of eight of the most powerful nations in the world(includes the US and our allies) meet annually to discuss global issues and how to address them. Russia is ousted from the G-8 group for its aggressive annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. Trump clamors for Russia’s reinstatement to the group. He even compliments Putin on his cunning acquisition of Crimea.

Ukraine, an emerging democracy and ally, elects Voludymyr Zelensky as its President. Ukraine is in desperate need of our security assistance, primarily military aid, to ward off Russian aggression at its eastern border. Putin is intent on conquering all of Ukraine and adding it to mother Russia’s orbit. Congress appropriates $391 million dollars for Ukraine’s security but is not forthcoming. It is withheld by Trump and used as leverage to pressure President Zelensky to publicly announce an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden, Trump’s chief political rival in the 2020 election, and his son Hunter Biden for possible corruption. There is no evidence of corruption; this is just a smear campaign to help Trump’s political fortune in his 2020 re-election bid. Trump even mutters his disinterest in Ukraine’s security( to the delight of Putin) with his focus only on the Biden probe. The military aid is finally released but only when Trump’s extortion ploy comes into public view. Once again his self-interest over the national interest.

Why Trump’s favoritism toward our archrival Putin? Maybe Putin has something on Trump. Maybe Trump has financial interests in Russia and wants to protect them by keeping in Putin’s good graces; maybe he opposes the public release of his tax returns for fear those interests will be revealed. What is he hiding? Does Trump act innocent? Of course not!

House Speaker Pelosi is right. All roads do lead to Putin.