One of the most important stories of the week is that special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE issued a dramatic warning that Russia is now waging an aggressive attack against our midterm elections.

In a filing to a U.S. District Court in Washington this week, in his prosecution of Russian nationals and entities charged with attacks against the presidential election in 2016, Mueller warned that similar Russian attacks are occurring today against our midterms.

The elections are fast approaching. The Mueller investigation is rapidly advancing. The Russian attacks against midterm election are aggressively continuing. The attacks against Mueller from President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE and his supporters are now escalating.

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While these events unfold, there is now excruciating pressure on two key suspects in the scandal: former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort Paul John ManafortOur Constitution is under attack by Attorney General William Barr Bannon trial date set in alleged border wall scam Conspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention MORE and former Trump lawyer and “fixer” Michael Cohen.

Manafort and Cohen face potentially dire legal consequences. There is a significant possibility that Manafort, Cohen or both will reach plea bargain deals with the feds. With the breaking news that Manafort’s bail is being revoked and the judge is sending him to jail pending his trial, the pressure on him to make a deal will reach white-hot intensity.

There is high drama surrounding Manafort and Cohen and high probability that a historic and decisive moment is fast approaching if they cut a deal with Mueller.

Here is the playing field in the Russia scandal as midterm elections approach:

Mueller, a decorated Marine and skilled prosecutor with impeccable credentials, has escalated his public warnings about the Russian attack against the midterms. Donald Trump, the beneficiary of the Russian attack against the 2016 election, has escalated his political war against Mueller, who investigates the Russian attack.

Democrats are fiercely united in support of Mueller and have seen their midterm prospects increase in recent polling data and election results. Republicans are bitterly divided over the Mueller investigation.

Some Republicans, such as Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainThe Memo: Trump's strengths complicate election picture Mark Kelly: Arizona Senate race winner should be sworn in 'promptly' Cindy McCain: Trump allegedly calling war dead 'losers' was 'pretty much' last straw before Biden endorsement MORE (Ariz.), fiercely support Mueller. Others, such as House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes Devin Gerald NunesOvernight Defense: Stopgap spending measure awaits Senate vote | Trump nominates former Nunes aide for intelligence community watchdog | Trump extends ban on racial discrimination training to contractors, military Trump nominates former Nunes aide to serve as intel community inspector general Sunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election MORE (Calif.) and Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, are waging a relentless political war against Mueller and the investigation. A third group of Republicans privately admires Mueller and deplores the Russian attacks against America, but is terrified of alienating the Trump base before a midterm.

The erratic machinations of Giuliani, who increasingly acts as the class clown of the Trump defense team, have had the effect of slowing down the investigation. This will prove disastrous to Republican midterm prospects. Giuliani’s maneuvers bring the crescendo of events in the Russia scandal closer to the crescendo of events in midterm voting.

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MORE FROM BRENT BUDOWSKY

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The blockbuster report from the Justice Department inspector general debunks the key conspiracy theory promoted by Trump and his defenders.

As the inspector general states, while a handful of FBI personnel clearly opposed Trump, they did not let their political opinions affect their investigations. The net political effect of the FBI investigation, like the net effect of the Russian attack against America, was to hurt Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonDemocratic groups using Bloomberg money to launch M in Spanish language ads in Florida The Hill's Campaign Report: Presidential polls tighten weeks out from Election Day More than 50 Latino faith leaders endorse Biden MORE and help elect Trump.

Former FBI Director James Comey James Brien ComeyDemocrats fear Russia interference could spoil bid to retake Senate Book: FBI sex crimes investigator helped trigger October 2016 public probe of Clinton emails Trump jabs at FBI director over testimony on Russia, antifa MORE clearly made monumental failures of judgment and engaged in violations of Justice Department practice, as I wrote in The Hill when I first called on the inspector general to investigate. However, as the inspector general states, Comey was not biased in favor of Clinton, and, in fact, his actions helped elect Trump.

As the midterm elections come closer and the Mueller investigation rapidly advances, American democracy has reached a critical moment and the Republican Party faces a serious decision.

Russia is indeed waging a war against democracy in America and Europe. Mueller is indeed waging a battle against this Russian aggression using the rule of law as a weapon for democracy against this Russian aggression. Republicans are indeed facing a historic decision about whether to support Mueller against Russia or whether to support Trump against Mueller.

Elected Republicans take great risks of alienating the Trump base if they back Mueller over Trump. They face potentially catastrophic risks in the midterm elections if they attack Mueller, while Mueller battles Russia, which would hyperenergize a massive turnout of midterm voters who are not members of the Trump base.

Budowsky was an aide to former Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Texas) and former Rep. Bill Alexander (D-Ark.), who was chief deputy majority whip of the U.S. House of Representatives. He holds an LLM in international financial law from the London School of Economics.