I used to work with somebody who would say, whenever the boss showed unaccountable deference to another employee, “He must have pictures.’’

That thought comes to my mind every time our president does anything with or about the Russians.

This covers things from favorable comments about Vladimir Putin, to Trump’s association with Paul Manafort and Michael Flynn, to sharing classified information. Trump has fired three people — a US attorney, an acting attorney general, and an FBI director — and apparently has sought to steer investigations away from his Russian connections. I’m sure I’m leaving out other examples.

There is no rational reason for him to do those things and undermine our allies and institutions, such as NATO, Germany, and Australia.

As to the “certified letter’’ from his attorneys, saying that he has no business ties with Russia, my father used to say, “The guilty flee when none pursue.’’

There has to be something, as yet unexplained, causing Trump to behave this way.

I am inferring that he must have business or other dealings with Russians that, because of their nature, have left him vulnerable to exposure by Putin.

And I’ll bet there are pictures.

Brad Leland

Watertown