Ahead of election, Trump attacks Russia probe and Democrats

(AP) — President Donald Trump and Republicans are launching a broad election-year attack on the foundation of the Russia investigation.

That includes declassifying intelligence information to try to place senior Obama administration officials under scrutiny.

The effort has been aided by a Justice Department decision to dismiss its prosecution of former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn. The decision coincides with a far-ranging push by Trump and his Republican allies to reframe the Russia investigation as a “deep state” plot to sabotage his administration.