Bangladesh, Jan. 13 -- The theory took root in vague form well before Donald Trump laid claim to the White House in 2016. The candidate's close confidant tweeted about it. His campaign chairman apparently spoke about it with people close to him.

What if, the idea went, it was actually Ukraine - and not Russia - that was interfering in the 2016 election?

Never mind that the notion has since been amplified by the president of Russia, the country that U.S. intelligence agencies unequivocally blame for interfering in that year's presidential race. Or that Trump's hand-picked FBI director and other American officials have said there's no information pointing to Ukraine interference. Or that 25 Russians stand charged in U.S. courts with hacki...