Why did Russians want Trump to be president?

We are under no illusions that President Donald J. Trump’s supporters will abandon him in light of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s disturbing revelations about Russia’s involvement in the 2016 presidential election.

But that doesn’t mean Republicans in Congress should also turn a blind eye to Mueller’s report and ignore the key fact that members of Trump’s 2016 campaign team drooled over illegally obtained information from the Russians about Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton’.

Here’s a question all thoughtful citizens should be asking: Why was America’s No. 1 enemy so intent on ensuring Republican Trump’s victory?

And that query gives rise to one that Congress must explore: When members of Trump’s campaign team, including his son, Donald Jr., met with Russian operatives with ties to President Vladimir Putin’s government, did that contact rise to the level of fraternizing with the enemy?

Most patriotic Americans sought out by foreign agents actively involved in undermining our democracy would immediately alert the FBI and other law-enforcement agencies.

But the architects of Trump’s victory had no qualms about playing footsies with the Russians. Why? One possible reason is that the self-styled real-estate billionaire from New York City has long had his eye on expanding his business interests in Moscow.

For his part, Russian dictator Putin needs an ally in the West who isn’t overly concerned about his expansionist desires.

Putin is committed to resurrecting the old Soviet Union, a superpower during the Cold War. His annexation of Crimea is just the first step.

The American and Russian leaders have publicly expressed admiration for each other, which is why Congress cannot ignore the findings of the Mueller report.

The special counsel spent two years investigating Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election.

While Trump declared total vindication after Mueller did not find any evidence of collusion with the Russians, the report sent to Congress and released to the public Thursday – with redactions – reveals troubling details about Trump’s numerous attempts to derail the investigation.

Mueller contends Trump tried to seize control of the Russia probe and force the special counsel’s removal. The aim was to block him from exploring possible obstruction of justice by the president.

The only reason Trump didn’t get his way is that those around him refused to carry out orders they deemed legally questionable.

There are so many avenues for Congress to explore that sworn testimony from Mueller, Attorney General William Barr, who has emerged as an apologist for the president, and other key players is essential.

There was this tidbit of information in the report that could form the basis of a congressional inquiry.

In May 2017, after the special counsel had been appointed, President Trump reportedly slumped back in his chair and declared: “Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. I’m f----ed.”

That is not the typical reaction of an innocent man.