They couldn't admit he was the target because it would expose the investigation. "By the book" in this case does not means keep it clean. It means use normal by the book procedures used in catching spies (lie cheat, steal, deceive, etc.)
And they think this is their get-out-of-jail-free card ?
ALL of deep state because Trump may be a Russian resource
Anyone ever wonder if Billy Jeff Clinton wasn’t a Russian source ? Seem to recall there were inquiries into his trips into Russia in his early life.
Of course the MSM will never out their chosen great ones like the clintons , or Obama and his “ sealed” shady past