Democrats and media commentators are noting that many Republicans are “shrugging off” the fact that Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to felony campaign finance violations which prosecutors say President Trump directed him to commit. The president, they say, is “implicated in two felonies.” How could GOP lawmakers shrug that off?

One little-discussed reason is that many Republicans never liked and continue to oppose current campaign finance laws. They don’t approve of limits on contributions by individuals, corporations, and others — they view those limits as restrictions on constitutionally-protected speech. So they don’t approve of what the laws are designed to do. But of course, the restrictions are law. Given that, many Republicans favor interpreting the law in the most limited way possible.