Mueller was obliged to play by the rules, as befits an independent justice system, but he was like a boxer going up against an opponent who is allowed to kick, scratch and bite. Free world legal systems (and news organizations) are simply not equipped to deal with a wealthy nation-state like Russia being run for private gain by people acting as private citizens. This is also how most Middle East autocracies are run — like Saudi Arabia, another Trump favorite — and China has few borders between its business might and its political leadership. It’s a role Trump was born for, having no sense of national interest or concept of serving anything but himself. This is why he’s Putin’s dream counterpart, regardless of how badly he may be compromised.