2. The special counsel’s first charges in the Russia investigation did not implicate President Trump directly, but collectively amounted to a political body blow to his administration.

The most damaging development involved a young foreign policy adviser, George Papadopoulos. Court records show he tried to serve as a conduit to the campaign for a Russian offering dirt on Hillary Clinton from stolen emails — the first evidence that Mr. Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions knew members of the campaign were in touch with Russia. Another Trump campaign adviser, Carter Page, has testified that he met with Russian officials last year, contradicting previous accounts.

The White House is now bracing for charges against Mr. Trump’s short-lived national security adviser, Michael Flynn.