December 20, 2018 --

As it turns out, Federal Judge William H. Pauley III announced, December 12, a three- year sentence for former Trump lawyer Michael D. Cohen, for what the New York Times, December 13 called a "hush-money scandal that could threaten the Trump presidency...."

Cohen pleaded guilty November 29, including a charge of lying to Congress.

The judge sentenced Cohen for what was called, as quoted in the Times, a "'veritable smorgasbord off fraudulent conduct.'" The crimes included violation of campaign finance laws and tax evasion. Cohen had previously pleaded guilty in two separate cases brought by U.S. prosecutors in Manhattan and also by the office of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III who referred the case to federal prosecutors in New York City.

Cohen is to begin serving his sentence March 6, 2019 -- that is, after the holiday season. The Times reported that Cohen had a "hangdog expression" as left the courthouse in "a waiting black Infiniti QX60."

Formerly, this time of the year was marked by evoking a "peace on earth; good will towards' people" spirit -- a spirit that Hollywood fostered in Frank Cap[ra films like "Meet John Doe," and "It's a
Wonderful Life." During the Trump era, a Hollywood movie about the anti-Trump opposition would more likely be called "Meet the Process Server," or "It's a Wonderful Impeachment .'"

Mueller mulls Impeachment?

Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III has been probing the subject of Russian collusion with the Trump campaign in the 2016 election for more than a year and a half.

The Times reported on December 14 that probes by federal prosecutor now include foreign donations to the inaugural committee for President Trump.

LPR wonders how the president could have participated in conduct that, arguably, would maintain the political "Swamp" he is pledged to drain. For how much longer will the probe continue?

Talk about term limits!

Rep. Nancy Pelosi will regain the speaker's gavel in the House of Representatives January 3. The second in command is Rep Steny H. Hoyer, a Marylander with 37 years service in Congress. According to The New York Times, December 17, there is speculation that friction between the two stems from 1963 when Hoyer met "a [summer] intern, Nancy D'Alesandro, soon to be Nancy Pelosi, the daughter of a longtime Baltimore mayor and Maryland Democratic royalty." According to the TImes headline for the article: "Pelosi and Her No. 2 / Go Back Over 50 Years But / They're Not Friends".