Trump under fire over epic Friday news dump

Trump knew the move would rankle Flake and McCain and be popular with his base, said one adviser who speaks with him often. And Trump often saw the sheriff on TV defending himself and the president, and came to believe the conviction was unfair.

“It was a politicized persecution by the Obama Justice Department,” said Tom Fitton, who leads the conservative group Judicial Watch. “The president has a very different understanding than the establishment class. He creates absolute hysteria in his opponents. Absolute hysteria.”