The art of parsing the meaning of the deal.
The art of parsing the meaning of the deal. Getty Images

Remember this?

Well, now we learn—via newly released e-mails from the Trump Organization—that at least a couple of people in Trump's orbit were pantingly eager to do business with Russia while Trump was running for president.

The emails show that, from the earliest months of Mr. Trump’s campaign, some of his associates viewed close ties with Moscow as a political advantage.

But just so we're all clear, the Trump Organization tells The New York Times today, "the Trump Organization has never had any real estate holdings or interests in Russia."

Never mind the three decades Trump spent chasing deals in Russia or the Russia deal that we now know Trump's associates were pursuing during the presidential campaign. "I will get Putin on this program and we will get Donald elected,” one associate, Felix Sater, wrote of the desired real estate deal.

That particular deal did not ultimately happen, but Trump's election did. The House Intelligence Committee now has the e-mails.