The only thing that does matter is what sworn testimony is given before a grand jury, or before a judge, or before a trial judge and jury, or before a Congressional investigative committee. Those are the only things that can lead to convictions, unless I'm missing something there (I'm not an attorney).

Those are the only things that may ultimately punish Trump and a number of his associates for any crimes for which they have been indicted, and then their being removed from power.

An impeachment of Trump would be good but does not necessarily expose and punish any and all crimes he may have committed and may not stop his administration's deconstructing of our government. It would, however be sweet revenge for his non-stop lying to the public.

For what little it's worth, Buzzfeed did acknowledge the statement from Mr. Mueller's office in an updated article. See.....

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jasonleopold/trump-russia-cohen-moscow-tower-mueller-investigation

............

Found on Twitter: Steve Vladeck @steve_vladeck

Our local federal court (the U.S. District Court for the [enormous] Western District of Texas) has just issued a general order freezing all civil litigation involving the federal government (except forfeiture cases) for the duration of the shutdown:

https://www.justsecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/AmendedOrderAbeyanceCivilMatters011719.pdf …

https://twitter.com/steve_vladeck/status/1086025029710680065
and an appropriate comment:


...........

https://twitter.com/ComdtUSCG/status/1085246326944788482
The entries into our history books on Trump will later be seen with scorn and regret.....

When I saw this:

That didn't read right at all. No way in hell the Navy completed a complex investigation in such short time.

The Military Times and Navy Times repeated the same statements.

See: https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2019/01/14/worse-than-you-thought-inside-the-secret-fitzgerald-probe-the-navy-doesnt-want-you-to-read/

This is a PDF of the reporting to date, although I had problems downloading the whole 3.1mb file:

Link: https://partner-mco-archive.s3.amazonaws.com/client_files/1503000639.pdf

(snip from PDF):

Reality (as I'm reading it):
* a preliminary investigation was completed on June 28, 2017,
* an additional Supplemental Preliminary Inquiry was submitted on August 11, 2017, and
* I assume a final report will be issued at some later date.

Thanks for the OP, Nitpicker............

she's somewhat changed her tune.....

Link: https://twitter.com/OMAROSA

A lot of stuff there suggesting she's strongly against the wall and the shutdown. Still a right-winger at her core, I'll bet.

Apparently, she is also getting married......

Sounds like our ATC group is the one that should be declaring a national emergency. Hard for us laymen to see how our air traffic system can operate safely with that degree of personnel shortage, although we know you guys are doing your very best under the circumstances. And we thank you for your steadfast and highly professional service.

Even for non-crucial industries, how many could continue to operate with a potential 30-to-40% manpower shortage?

Our general public must somehow be made aware of this dilemma in plain, frank terms.....

This is another clear case of a right-wing tax-averse administration making bold and reckless policy decisions without consideration of the consequences.

I thought it strange he didn't go to Mar-A-Lago for the holidays considering he doesn't let any governmental consideration interfere with his love for golf and rubbing elbows with millionaires at the clubs.

Other possibilities might be that the SS has told him they can't guarantee his safety at some US locations, or that his doctors have discovered a problem with his health.....

If questioned, he would likely claim a flair-up of his bone spurs.....

Armed Forces Network has it covered every day...

See: http://www.afneurope.net/AFN-360/

AFN 360 PowerTalk

PowerTalk gives you three full hours of Rush Limbaugh, Stephanie Miller, Sean Hannity, and Thom Hartmann each weekday, plus a weekend lineup never before seen nor heard in political talk radio. It's the most complete list of shows from liberal to conservative and everything in between all on one channel. AFN PowerTalk, the only channel on earth where you can find all the political talk heavy weights. Where left and right collide...AFN PowerTalk!

AFN 360 The Voice

The Voice is your source for news, talk and information. You can get Rush Limbaugh, The Osgood File, Sean Hannity, Doug Stephan, Stephanie Miller, Dave Ramsey, Thom Hartmann and so much more. The Voice is your single source for AP news, ABC news, Fox news, and military news.

-----------------------

Just another example of outright Republican hypocrisy hidden in plain sight. They want to publicly chastise a Congresswoman for saying one M-F word at a private party, yet they fund a military media operation that broadcasts extreme right-wing political lies and deception to our service members every day.

.............

Oh noes, I just hope all the cream-filled chocolate eclairs made it to doughnut heaven!......

From: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46728111

(snips)

Comments on Twitter:

No words. 😭 pic.twitter.com/eRzvxztVlG
— Lexington Police (@lexkypolice) December 31, 2018
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Condolences from Chicago 🍩
— Chicago PD 14th Dist (@ChicagoCAPS14) January 1, 2019
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In this line of work, some things can't be unseen. 😱🍩😫😪
My thoughts are with @lexkypolice officers in this time of tragedy. 😆🤣
— Officer Morton (@OfficerMorton) December 31, 2018


This is our international shame and a heavy cross to bear.

........

I feel many of your ten points are true short term, but I'm prone to be long-term negative because of human short-sightedness and complacency.

Unfortunately for us, Republican's cyclic "two Santa Clauses" tactic is still working for them in the long term. It does, however feel good that we're about to go into the "positive" side of that cycle.

Until the massive problem of global inequality is resolved, I fear the trends toward nationalism, protectionism, racism and worsening poverty and deadly conflict will continue.

I don't see much now to stop the process unless we experience a global cataclysmic event such as another Great Depression. Climate change will eventually do the job, although millions will die in the process. The world is very poorly prepared for it and still in denial, much like Indonesia has been for tsunami.

However, let's hope 2019 proves to make all of your points hold true for the sake of world-wide emotional relief.....