1) It now appears undisputed that the Russians set out to interfere in the US election to benefit Donald J. Trump.
The only people who appear to deny it are Trump and Putin. But even Trump's supporters in the Senate have shifted to "but there is no evidence they influenced any votes."
2) When your boss calls you into the office, closes the door, and tells you he "hopes" you can make something happen... it is something more than a casual conversation.
If the President of the United States tells you one on one that "I sure hope" followed by something that is within your power, it is something more than a subtle hint. It reminds me of Bill Clinton trying to dodge questions by saying it depends on the definition of "is." Sure Bill, Technically you could construe your statement as being accurate - but most people got the heavy wink and the subtle nod of what was going on.
3) It is highly inappropriate for a president to demand personal loyalty. That implies loyalty to the person ahead of loyalty to the oath of office or constitution. Monarchs and dictators require oaths of fealty, not elected leaders.
4) The timeline reads like a bad episode of the West Wing:
7/2016 - Invesitgation into Russian influence on US election begins
8/2016 -Trump is advised in intelligence briefings that Russia is attempting to interfere with the election
10/2016 - Comey reopens investigation into Hillary - Trump immediately praises it and continues to praise the decision
12/9/16 - CIA assessment leaked that Russia intervened in the US election to try to help Trump win
12/29/16 - new sanctions against Russia
12/29/16 - Flynn discusses sanctions with Russians
1/15/17 - Pence publicly denies Flynn discussed sanctions with Russians
1/24/17 - FBI interviews Flynn at the White House concerning Russia, advises White House
1/26/17 - White House is advised by the AG that Flynn has been dishonest and could be compromised by the Russians
1/27/17 - White House summons AG, asks why the DOJ cares if one White House member lies to another
1/30/17 - Trump fires the AG
2/9/17 - Story is leaked, Pence learns that Flynn was dishonest
2/13/17 - Flynn is forced to resign
2/14/17 - Trump tells Comey in a private meeting that he sure hopes the Flynn investigation goes away
3/2/17 - New AG is forced to recuse from the Russia investigation because of undisclosed meetings with Russia
3/20/17 - Comey testifies before the House regarding the Russian probe & that there is no evidence Obama wired tapped Trump
3/30/17 - Trump again asks Comey if he could "lift the cloud" of the Russian investigation
4/11/17 - Trump again calls Comey about the Russia investigation
4/28/17 Trump is still calling Russia meddling in the US election "Fake News"
5/3/17 - Comey testifies before the Senate
5/9/17 - Comey is fired, stating it was on the recommendation of Justice for the October 2016 Clinton investigation
5/10/17 - Trump meets with the Russians and says the pressure from the Russia probe has been taken off
5/11/17 - Trump gives interviews saying he made the decision to fire Comey before the recommendation from Justice and that he said to himself "You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story. . . ."
5/12/17 - Trump says that Comey better hope there are no "tapes" of their conversations
6/8/17 - Comey testifies before the Senate
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/timeline-sally-yates-warnings-white-house-mike-flynn/story?id=47272979http://billmoyers.com/story/timeline-pences-role-white-houses-russia-related-mess/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/james-comey-donald-trump-relationship-timeline/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2017/06/01/every-russia-story-trump-said-was-a-hoax-by-democrats-a-timeline/?utm_term=.0cd348fc80c5