Democrats see Mueller indictments as proof Trump camp colluded with Russia

The indictments of two high-level campaign advisers and a plea deal secured with a third by special counsel Robert Mueller provides enough evidence of collusion between Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and the Russian government, a number of Democrats said Monday.

Democrats specifically pointed to Trump’s foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos’ plea deal, in which he admitted to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia. But Senate Democrats have few tools at their disposal to push the issue and Mueller’s first charges come as the ongoing congressional investigations into Russian meddling have quieted down.

“There are clearly facts and evidence that show collusion by the Trump campaign with the Russians,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told reporters Monday evening. “What this indictment shows in its depth in detail is outreach toward the Russians, involvement with the Russians, payment by the Russians to people intimately involved in the Trump campaign.”

“Clearly Paul Manafort was a Russian agent,” added Blumenthal, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., echoed Blumenthal’s assessment, saying the Papadopoulos plea is a “very clear suggestion that there was communication between the Trump campaign and representatives of Russian government.”