Trump's strained relationship with the FBI can only worsen

THE administration of President Donald Trump is under multiple investigations by American intelligence agencies and US Congress for its allegedly improper links with Russia and Moscow's interference in the US presidential election. These probes may or may not establish his connection with Moscow, but they will certainly compromise his ability to conduct foreign policy.

The extraordinary closeness to Russia may inhibit American diplomatic efforts to continue pressuring Moscow to end its occupation of Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, and to maintain economic sanctions against it. Mr Trump may even tolerate the Kremlin's foreign interventions.

Both the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are probing many aspects of the administration's links to Russia. Moreover, at least five Congr…