Being a simple person, I wonder whether we actually pander to these types by seeking to try and explain what they are doing and their delusional logic.
There is little doubt that he knew what he was doing, there is little doubt that it was planned to the most minute detail and there is no doubt that the intentions were not disclosed.
Lying and deception come to mind I am afraid.
In the case of the former US president you refer to, he was held to account. He was publicly shunned because the public did not accept the lies rather than the deed itself (which no-one really cared about much). Seems an appropriate analogy.