Putin's Continuing Intervention in American Politics

There can no longer be any doubt that Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to protect Donald Trump's presidency, for whatever reason. His attack on the credibility of former FBI Director James Comey, by sarcastically offering him "asylum", equating him with the leaker Eric Snowden and labeling him a "civil activist", is but his latest effort to meddle in American politics. This most recent intrusion apparently has flown under the radar, failing to evoke the outrage it warrants.
It is an obvious attempt to blunt or deflect the just disclosed probability that Special Counsel Mueller's investigation may be examining whether President Trump has obstructed justice. Trump defenders are trying to block that inquiry at its outset by questioning Mueller's impartiality and accusing Comey of criminal misconduct. Putin seems to have joined forces with Sean Hannity and the Trump defense team, fueling the suspicion already surrounding the strange relationship between the two leaders.