of congress, right wing media, and the Trump administration. Roll the calendar back 36 months and the credibility of the institution of the FBI was not in question, especially within the GOP.

What has changed in the interim? Donald Trump got elected, along with his vast history of shady if not criminal dealings with a universe of men and women of questionable reputation. So, similar to Bill Clinton, but far exceeding even his transgressions , Trump entered office with a host of issues that were certain to draw the attention of the press and of the political opposition.

Add to that, the fact of Russian election interference and the possibility/probability of a conspiracy related to that on the part of the administration, and you have a scenario exceeding even Watergate proportions.

The key difference with Watergate is that Nixon had little support in congress even within his own party as the evidence against him and his advisors mounted..........but Nixon was never bound to be exonerated even after having shot someone on 5th Avenue. It is almost understandable that someone weaned on a generation of Fox News would go along with this shuck and jive but such an attitude is unpardonable (pun intended) on the part of the elected officials of the GOP.