I’m wording it in the majority way, not the minority way that Gallup did.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Three in 10 U.S. adults believe Donald Trump acted illegally in separate incidents during the 2016 campaign. Twenty-nine percent believe he broke the law for his campaign’s alleged involvement with Russian officials, the focus of independent counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. Meanwhile, 31% say Trump acted illegally in making payments to two women in the fall of 2016 who alleged having affairs with him.
Americans are more inclined to believe Trump acted unethically, but not illegally, in the hush-money payments matter (37%) than to say he did nothing seriously wrong (23%). On the other hand, more, 35%, believe Trump did nothing wrong in the Russia matter than say he acted unethically (27%).
Acted illegally Acted unethically but not illegally Did nothing seriously wrong % % % Russian officials’ involvement with Trump campaign in 2016 U.S. presidential election 29 27 35 Payments to two women to keep them from publicizing their alleged relationships with Trump 31 37 23 GALLUP, AUG. 27-SEPT. 2, 2018 These data come from an Aug. 27-Sept. 2 Gallup poll, conducted the week after criminal convictions of former Trump associates Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen. A jury found Manafort, the former Trump campaign chairman who is a central figure in Mueller’s investigation, guilty of tax evasion and other crimes unrelated to the 2016 campaign. Cohen, who orchestrated payments to former Playboy model Karen McDougal and adult film actress Stormy Daniels, pleaded guilty to violations of campaign finance laws, implicating Trump in the process.
Gallup had asked in August 2017 about Trump’s actions in the Russia matter, and opinions have not changed much since then. At that time, 25% thought he acted illegally and 37% unethically, while 35% believed he did nothing wrong. There has been an increase in the percentage of Americans not having an opinion, from 3% a year ago to 9% now.