Liechtenstein GDP per capita (click here)

The population is 38,244 as of July 2017. Sixty-five percent of the population are immigrants. It is ranked the 24th country in net migration per year according to UN records. The United States of America is ranked 29th.

Liechtenstein is a total of 160 square kilometers (61.8 square miles). It is approximately nine times the size of Washington, DC.

GDP per capita (constant LCU) in Liechtenstein was reported at 113794 LCU in 2009, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources.

Graph to left (click here)

Liechtenstein is not graded in the 2018 Index (click here) because of the unavailability of relevant comparable statistics on all facets of the economy. Despite its small size and lack of natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and the world’s third-highest per capita income. The country is closely linked to Switzerland, whose currency it shares, and the European Union. Liechtenstein is a member of the European Free Trade Association, the Schengen Area, and the European Economic Area.

Flexibility and openness to global commerce have been the cornerstones of Liechtenstein’s modern and widely diversified economy. Minimal barriers to trade and investment foster vibrant economic activity, and a straightforward, transparent, and streamlined regulatory system supports an innovative entrepreneurial sector. Banking has benefited from Liechtenstein’s high levels of political and social stability and its sound and transparent judicial system.

If it is toxic to wildlife, is it toxic to people? The people may be helpful to rid the country of the menace.

Ugly toad, isn't it? It is probably coming in with the ballast from ships docking in Madagascar.

Import Trading partners (click here) include China ($654M), France($243M), India ($190M), South Africa ($165M) and the United Arab Emirates ($163M).

There is an international understanding that ships are to unload their ballast water out of port so critters living in it do not create an issue of invasive species into a country. 

Australia had or may still have a problem with a species of toad called "Cane Toads." They were toxic, but, they reproduced so quickly, the sheer numbers forced other species out of their habitat to find new food sources. The Cane Toads became  regional issue in Queensland. 

Finally, a scientist who studied their biology found that the tadpoles could be lured into the toxin that the adults produced. It killed that generation of toads while still tadpoles. Perhaps a similar solution can be applied with the Asian Common Toad in Madagascar.

Science  15 Jun 2012:,Vol. 336, Issue 6087, pp. 1375-1377

By Sarah Zielinski

...Herpetologist Rick Shine of Australian National University (click here) knew the toads would likely eradicate many of the animals he had studied for decades, so he reluctantly turned his attention to the unwelcome guest. Less than a decade later, Shine's research has paid off, with dozens of findings covering basic toad biology and how the toads interact with Australia's native fauna, and even the discovery of a potentially new mechanism of evolution. But Shine's biggest breakthrough may be a recently devised strategy to turn the toad's own toxins against the invader.

June 6, 2018
By Mindy Weisberger

Talk about toxic relationships. (click here) An invasive species of toad in Madagascar is even more dangerous to local wildlife than previously suspected — its poisonous slime is deadly to just about any local predator, including endangered lemurs, that tries to eat the amphibian.

The Asian common toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) is a newcomer to the island of Madagascar, and in just a few years it has spread rapidly. Invasive species upset the balance of local diversity and can cause big problems for native animals, but scientists recently learned that the runaway success of the toad could have even more troubling consequences than thought.

In the evolutionary arms race of predator versus prey, animals that habitually eat toxic creatures often evolve resistance to their poison, in the form of genetic mutations....

According to research programs, significant negative effects of global climate warming in the Alpine region are to be expected. Changes in the permafrost layer and water drainages will play a central role in this regard.

Liechtenstein’s annual mean temperature has risen by 0.7°C between the reference period 1961-1990 and 1981-2010. This increase is up to three times higher as the worldwide increase and has been observed in the other Alpine countries as well. The increase projected between 1990 and 2100 for the neighbouring northern Switzerland is 2.7 °C and 4.8 °C depending on the scenario considered. Further reductions between 18% and 28% in the summer precipitation amount are being predicted compared to the period 1980-2009, representing a substantial shift in the seasonal precipitation distribution. Glaciers in the Alps have lost 25% of their volume since 1970. Phenological observations show that the biological beginning of spring has been advancing by 1.5–2.5 days per decade.

The following effects are expected as a consequence of a further temperature rise: Heat waves with increased mortality will occur more frequently, also tropical diseases will surface in Central Europe and existing diseases will spread to higher elevations. Indirect consequences for health are to be expected from storm, floods, and landslides. The increasing weather instabilities may lead to floods in winter and droughts in summer time and composition of forest vegetation may change too. Global climate warming will therefore affect various economic sectors in Liechtenstein (e.g. Tourism, Agriculture, Forestry).

I didn't think it was possible to have a dust storm in Inida

May 4, 2018

...A deadly (click here) dust storm claimed 121 lives in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Punjab, while an electric storm, in which lightning struck an estimate 40,000 times, left 21 people dead in the country’s south....

To understand how strange this is, Nothern India is the location of Himalayas. Uttarakhand is home of The UNESCO World Heritage site, Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks.

...Criterion (vii): (click here) The Nanda Devi National Park is renowned for its remote mountain wilderness, dominated by India's second highest mountain at 7,817 m and protected on all sides by spectacular topographical features including glaciers, moraines, and alpine meadows. This spectacular landscape is complemented by the Valley of Flowers, an outstandingly beautiful high-altitude Himalayan valley. Its ‘gentle’ landscape, breath-taking beautiful meadows of alpine flowers and ease of access has been acknowledged by renowned explorers, mountaineers and botanists in literature for over a century and in Hindu mythology for much longer....

Nanda Devi the highest peak in India that is contained entirely within it's borders. It is the 23rd highest peak in the world. To realize all this disastrous weather is occurring in this region of India is an astonishing reality.

...Morning (click here) after yoga ,meditation and breakfast we proceed for the trek , 180 degree grand Himalayan panorama accompanies us through out this beautiful trek to Kuari Pass....

Located in central Europe, the Principality of Liechtenstein is landlocked, with Germany as its northern neighbor, and Switzerland along its southern border. It has a land area of 62 sq. mi. (160 sq. km.), a population of 35,000 (2006 est.), and a population density of 557 people per sq. mi. (215 people per sq. km.). Twenty-four percent of the land is arable, with 16 percent used for meadows and pasture, and 20 percent of the country forested.

With a very high standard of living in the country, it has a relatively high level of per capita carbon dioxide emissions, largely because of its high per capita electricity production, and high private ownership of automobiles, in spite of having an efficient level of public transport in Vaduz, the capital. However, much of the automobile usage takes place outside of Liechtenstein.

In the foothills of the Alps, Liechtenstein is threatened by rising temperatures from climate change and global warming, noticeable in the lessening of the snow-covered Alpine peaks. The Liechtenstein government took part in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change signed in Rio de Janeiro in May 1992, and signed the Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change on June 29, 1998. It was ratified by the Landtag, the Liechtenstein parliament, on December 3, 2004, and it took effect on March 3, 2005.

It is Sunday Night

Angela Gisela Brown and Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein.

Angela Brown was born in 1958 in Bocas del Toro, Panama.  Her mother was born and raised in Bocas del Toro.  

Prince Maximilian was born in 1969 in St. Gallen.

Angela Brown immigrated with her family when she was a little girl and grew up in New York City.  Angela and Prince Maximilian met at a private party in New York.  Angela was working as a fashion designer and Prince Maximillian was in the States working for Chase Capitol Partners.  The couple was married on January 29, 2000.
20 September 2017

...Angela and Maximilian (click here) currently have one son together, Prince Alfons who was born in 2001. Prince Alfons is 6th in line to the throne of Liechtenstein. Other than her background in design and her marriage to Maxmilian, little is known about Princess Angela as the family are keen to stay away from the public eye as much as possible.

Princess Angela is part of a new generation of European monarchies. As Europe becomes more globalised with people moving from all corners of the world, it is refreshing to see the old dynasties adapting. Whereas in the past it was impossible for a Prince to marry anyone other than a Princess from another European family, it is now becoming the norm for royals to marry for love. From Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg’s marriage to his Cuban bride Maria Theresa to Prince Haakon of Norway marrying a single mother and former waitress Mette-Marit, after hundreds of years of stale protocol the royal houses of Europe are finally modernising.

National Anthem of Liechtenstein (click here for official website of the "Principality of Liechtenstein"

"Oben am jungen Rhein" 

"High on the young Rhine"

Oben am jungen Rhein
Lehnet sich Liechtenstein
An Alpenhöh'n.
Dies liebe Heimatland,
Das teure Vaterland
Hat Gottes weise Hand
Für uns erseh'n.

High on the young Rhine
Lies Liechtenstein, resting
On Alpine heights.
This beloved homeland,
This dear fatherland
By God's wise hand
Was chosen for us.

Hoch lebe Liechtenstein,
Blühend am jungen Rhein,
Glücklich und treu.
Hoch leb' der Fürst vom Land,
Hoch unser Vaterland,
Durch Bruderliebe Band
Vereint und frei.

Long live Liechtenstein,
Blossoming on the young Rhine,
Fortunate and faithful!
Long live the Prince of the Land,
Long live our fatherland,
Through bonds of brotherly love
United and free!

McGahn and Nunez are facing the same dilemma, “How far does Trump loyalty take them into a place of no return?

Don McGahn’s cooperation with the Russian investigation may mean Special Council Mueller doesn’t really need to speak with Trump.

Congressman Devin Nunez’s (described as Putin’s Puppet) office staff in Clovis, California had to call the police for crowd control at the weekly Taco Tuesday. The crowd? His constituents.

Besides the staff calling 911, neighbors chronically complain about loss of function of their own offices in the same building (Sentinel Executive Offices). The Nunez office has been asked to move, but, refuse to do so.

What has his constituents upset? Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. It is a very big deal and they are correct to protest. The demonstration is every Taco Tuesday and has occurred for a year now. Nunez won’t come to the office anymore. That is what the demonstrators want, an open forum meeting which is why it is called Taco Tuesday.

The constituents are upset the benefits they paid for as a worker is being whittled away while the long  view is the destruction of their entitlements with ever increasing national debt.

This is the time the USA finds itself, Russian hackers fixing elections, Chinese hackers invading Alaska’s government cyber networks (Does the Alaska state cyber network include voting and elections?), politicians running with their tail between their legs while constituents want to be heard, understood and reassured their Representatives respect their lives as Americans that were promised a retirement after working all their younger years.

Nestle bottled water donation to Flint has reached 1.6 million bottles.

The Snyder administration has conceded Flint should have peace of mind when it comes to water pipe excavation. Mayor Karen Weaver ended the hydro-excavation in June because it did not provide safe removal of the water service lines. It currently appears Flint’s local government will have the final say about the excavation.

I want to know if Vladimir Putin’s security clearance has been revoked!

Stinky Zinke got it wrong again.

Zinke from Interior and Trump are playing politics with American lives. They want Americans to believe good forest management is all that is necessary in ending California wildfires. That is a lie. 

Good forest management has been the practice of federal and state foresters (silvaculturalists) since the 1960s. There isn’t enough funding for it because of the very difficult wildfires that demand the biggest allotment for the US Forest Service. That was supposed to be solved after the deadly Yarnell, Nevada fire that took the lives of 19 firefighters. Congress was suppose to fund fire fighting separately from the US Forest Service. That still hasn’t happened.

But, as to Stinky Zinke and his crony politics; the best forest management in history could not have prevented the Carr Fire.

The Carr Fire began with a spark from a flat tire on a car when the rim hit the pavement and sparked. Now, a simple spark from metal hitting rock alone would  never result in such a fire, but, the spark was met with a perfect storm resulting from 105 F degree heat and 20 percent humidity. It is called the Climate Crisis and it is directly responsible for the Carr Fire, the burned acreage, the lost homes and loss of human life as well as wildlife.

Zinke thinks it is okay to distract from the facts. That should be no surprise, he is a loyalist to Trump. 

The USA needs to officially recognize the Climate Crisis and legislate prevention like moratoriums on fossil fuel exports. Trump is too scared to take a real stand on climate, because, his base is currently engaged in reaping wealth from exploitation of fossil fuels. It takes a President with real political courage ready to accept facts and act on them. In the meantime, the truth is there is no effective leadership for California except Governor Jerry Brown. At least California has one seat of power where facts matter.

Omarosa

Omarosa claims her paycheck is hush money. There was no sexual relationship or a lawyer so how can she claim her salary is hush money?

Trump used a similar scheme with Karen McDougal. The Playboy model received a salary from the National Enquirer. So, while Omarosa’s story is different, her statement is realistic. It wasn’t immediately apparent to Ms. Dougal the monies paid to her from the National Enquirer was hush money.

The way Trump treats women is really diabolical. I think paying through employment for hush money is more threatening than a straight forward payment, unless someone approached a woman in a parking lot with death threats.

I find Trump’s schemes very worrisome. But, employment is extremely important and rewarding. A job supports a family. I do believe to have hush money in such a scheme is very alarming. I don’t like the way he regards women.

His press secretary is hostage as well. Supposedly she does nothing but puppet Trump. That is controlling and abusive. There are some things simply wrong in this world and Trump’s “handling of women” is just wrong. 

By the way, I thought we already dealt with media stenography with Judith Miller. 

I find Omarosa as well prepared to defend herself and her book. I wish her well.

If Trump is willing to punish critics, what occurs in any reward for speaking in advocacy of Trump's policies?

This action is part of a broader effort by Mr. Trump (click here) to suppress freedom of speech & punish critics. It should gravely worry all Americans, including intelligence professionals, about the cost of speaking out. My principles are worth far more than clearances. I will not relent.

This is a two edged sword regarding freedom of speech and punishment to suppress it. We know Trump seeks punishment, as if the country's Daddy, to those he does not like and speech he is not pleased with, BUT, what occurs in the opposite realm?

I think we see that a lot with FOX and Trump's best friend, Hannity. There is definitely an understanding between the FOX News outlet and it's commentators that Trump can do nothing wrong. 

I think he stated during his election that if Russia found the 30 thousand emails he believed necessary for his victory, "...you would be rewarded mightily by our press." So, Trump has this concept down when it comes to favorable and unfavorable press dialogues with the country. Trump is attempting to silence critics because he already has FOX News as a lap dog and he is still receiving criticism.

I think the concept of rewards and punishments are all part of his strategy to manage HIS REWARDS OF POWER. It is vital people, like former CIA Directors and others. be part of the national dialogue. It is important to critique the White House policies. That critique can be very harsh and rightfully so. This President has brought this on himself. I sincerely believes he thrives on hate and this is all part of his dysfunctional personality.

I might add it is the right of any American such as former CIA Directors and others to participate in their democracy and to MAINTAIN that democracy and PROTECT that democracy.

The media of the USA has an obligation to bring the truth forward to the people, especially when there has been such a concerted effort to end the truth in reporting by Trump for some time now; ie: The Birther issue, etc. Truth is a premium and finding GENUINE AMERICAN TRUTH has value. I still think Americans need to subscribe to local and national news media and stay abreast of THE TRUTH. The USA is a democracy that runs on choices by the people and Russia has found a way to harness that to it's benefit. We have to end it. The truth is vital to our democracy and those that carry the truth to the people are great Americans.

One aspect of the investigations and trials taking place is a growing awareness of the ability of countries like Russia to use the USA free market to launder money. How widespread is it? Both domestically and abroad. The Steele Dossier (click here) is a wake up call. I think Americans and their allies need to begin the process of eliminating the money laundering of communist leaders and business persons/oligarchs. I think the money laundering is a sincere problem, occurs under the radar and needs to end for the sake of our democracy.

-Russian regime has been cultivating, supporting and assisting TRUMP for at least 5 years. Aim, endorsed by PUTIN, has been to encourage splits and divisions in western alliance

I think it was a heck of a lot longer than 5 years and became an intricate method of conducting business.

Tariffs supported the USA's federal government when there was no income tax. Not since the Sixteenth Amendment (click here) has the USA relied on tariffs. The purpose for tariffs to as they are used by the Trump Administration is to pay for the tax cuts for the wealthy.

The Sixteenth Amendment was passed in 1913. World War I began in 1914. The 16th amendment facilitated a strong military for the USA. WW I was the war where the USA took it's place as a world power. It can be said if the Sixteenth Amendment was repealed the USA would never be able to carry the cost of it's military, yet the political right wing, including Trump, wants to repeal the 16th amendment.

Tariffs will never earn the USA enough DEPENDABLE income to support it's military. Think about it. If tariffs supported the USA military how quickly would the tariffs end to weaken the USA? The entire tariff issue is significant because countries that suffer because of the tariffs will move away from them.

Fearing the end of the income tax is a wise decision. Take for example Harley Davidson motorcycles. It will be better for Germany, currently an ally I think, to have Harley within it's borders. In a way that is the real method the USA should be providing stronger economies for out allies. Germany will receive an uptick in national income, jobs and exports at least to the rest of Europe of a classic American icon. It will be a good idea for Germany. It is a good deal for Harley. 

When Harley moves to Germany it will still have a manufacturing base in the USA, maybe. If Harley has production plants in the USA and Europe that increases it's viability and customer base. It is a win-win, but, the USA needs to be sure the classic motorcycle isn't then replaced by a Chinese or Russian Oligarch within the USA. That would not be good, because, the profits are exported to it's home country and makes the USA economy weaker.

US Treasuries (click here)

August 16, 2018
By Alexandra Gibbs

U.S. government debt prices came under pressure on Thursday. (click here)

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note was higher at around 2.875 percent at 5:45 a.m. ET, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was in the black at 3.044 percent. Bond yields move inversely to prices.

The cost of USA Deficit and Debt are increasing. The US housing market is still deteriorating. I thought Trump knew real estate to make the American Dream come true for every American.

Never make a martyr out of a person dedicated to the country and the lives within it.

I feel very bad for everyone today. They don't deserve the "slight" issues by Trump. I want to remind all the great Americans in this country, this is not over. Right? 

I remember and this goes back a few years, when I think it was President Clinton in the White House, the defeated party of Republicans didn't take their defeat lying down. They organized a non-profit group of SPEAKERS and hit the road. They toured the country like rock stars. The result was protections of their policies in the hearts and minds of the people. Their tour mattered. It made a lasting impression. They would speak in large amphitheaters and small auditoriums. 

One of those speakers was former Secretary of State Powell. 

The point is, don't allow this level of disrespect take hold in the hearts of great Americans. Know the path forward to keep the values we all love alive and come up with a tour whereby there are speakers every month visiting the Homeland.

The country needs your continued dedication. Think about it. Perhaps, candidates running for office would love to have one or all on the podium when making bus stops along the way. Who knows, superstars may be in the tea leaves.

All this could have been done differently and discretely, but, Trump loves the show of power regardless the person involved. These men and women don't deserve to be dragged into a public forum and shamed. It just wasn't necessary.

There is speculation there is a mysterious Russian satellite?

Knock it out of the sky. It could easily be a lazar.

The United Nations will back such actions. Russia knows it is acting illegally when there are current talks regarding weaponizing space.

It is not that difficult to dismantle a weapon circulating Earth. Send it spiraling. That would be interesting having a Russian lazar spiraling through orbit out of control while malfunctioning and firing it’s lazar. So much for AI.

“Warning, Will Robinson, Warning. What do you mean you can’t get the self-destruct button to work? Who is Hal?”

And another thing, about those white reflective surfaces in cities. Multi- tasking. Just sayin’.

I heard a rumor that Pence is the trial run of AI, truth or dare?

Officially there is no death penalty in Russia.

However, in 2013, while Russia was still a member of the G8, there were more than 4200 inmate deaths in it’s prisons with more than ten percent being suicides. Currently, the World Health Organization is monitoring an outbreak of tuberculosis in Russian prisons. Tuberculosis is treatable with a long established regime of medications. The treatment takes place over months and up to a year depending on the individual and supportive measures such as good nutrition.

Currently, as of July 2018, there are 408 Russian prisoners per 100,000 population. Of that 17.7 percent are detainees, 0.2 percent are children and 4.3 percent are foreign. Those numbers have been in steady decline over a ten year period. 

The statistics for the USA are worse with the most incarcerated deaths occurring in state prisons with more than 3300 per year. The local jails are responsible for less than 1000 per year. Oddly the number of children incarcerated in the USA are the same as Russia. Russia does not have the gun death statistics as does the USA. The USA incarnation statistics were steadily growing until the US Justice Department reviewed non-violent offenders under President Obama. 

The PR campaign by Trump to justify his corruption continues.

Today, the Trump rant is back to Jeff Sessions and lamenting for an Attorneys General that throws the USA Constitution out the window and does what Trump demands. It isn’t bad enough there is a completely incompetent Assistant Attorney General from the Russian Alpha Bank, Brian Benczkowski, now, Trump wants him center stage in hopes that Manafort is acquitted. Sessions who has stood up to Trump on occasion and backed Rod Rosenstein is Trump’s choice to start the carnage in the US Justice Department. Do I smell Vladimir Putin in the background? 

First, Sessions, then Rosenstein and finally the most feared, a competent Mueller. Imagine, the mass confusion with US Justice as leadership is replaced by incompetency. Do I smell Vladimir Putin in the background?

I have to wonder how dedicated Trump is to communism. He is forcing a long lived American motorcycle company out of Wisconsin to replace it with a Chinese company. That is outrageous. Are all the died in the wool American iconic companies going to receive the same treatment? Do I smell Vladimir Putin in the background?

Trump’s ranting is far more than suspicious when one realizes a former Russian Alpha Bank executive will have a real place at the top of US Justice with incompetent handling of Russian Sanction violations. That is Trump’s plan. It always has been as Americans still wonder what Putin is blackmailing Trump with. Or is he? Is Trump so far gone that he actually embraces communism as “The New American Government Reform?” Do I smell Vladimir Putin in the background?

We know as President of the USA, Trump is incompetent. His megaphone has some clout left, I guess. He is obviously a puppet to the communists. So where does this end? Do I smell Vladimir Putin in the background?

I believe regardless of the verdict with Manafort both sides of the prosecution have grounds for appeal. Count on it. So, an irreverent judge is going to be the spring board to widespread US Justice carnage? First one has to ask if the judge knew he was a willing partner to facilitating communism. Then, a question as to Giuliani’s involvement and how deep the Oval Office corruption goes. Do I smell Vladimir Putin in the background?

Today, Paul Manafort’s case will be provided a defense and with little defense except to dispute the prosecution and the jury may receive the case for a verdict. Eventually, a verdict will be decided and knowing how well Trump likes his gamesmanship of pitting one person against another and never accepting responsibility for doing so, the political spin of defaming US Justice will begin. Do I smell Vladimir Putin in the background?

Peter Strzok was wrongfully fired. Yet another career employee that defended the US Constitution gone. His political dialogue on the job was permitted by policy. Has the policy changed or Strzok simply a political scapegoat? I hope he was protected by a union. He and the others that are part of the Trump’s political agenda are prime examples of why government employees are union. They do a job that can be ended with the next election. Those jobs are not political, they take care of our country. Do I smell Vladimir Putin in the background ?

In reflection of all the federal employees that have left or were fired under Trump there can actually be a democratic shadow government developing. There is no smell of Vladimir Putin in that background.

I hear Trump is eating paper (pica) as a diet when under stress. The Fat Man in the White House needs a nutritional review and a tox screen for eating ink along with the paper. Do I smell Vladimir Putin in the background?

I look forward to the jury’s decisions. The question remains will it smell of Vladimir Putin in the background? There was that three hour meeting in Helsinki yet to be disclosed after all. That definitely smells of Vladimir Putin in the background.

The Mueller Investigation is in excellent legal standing.

This is a very big endorsement of Rod Rosenstein as Deputy AG.

August 13, 2018
By Katelyn Polantz

A federal district judge (click here) who was appointed by President Donald Trump has upheld Robert Mueller's appointment and constitutional authority in the special counsel's case against Russian social media propagandists.

Judge Dabney Friedrich, who serves at the trial-court level in DC federal court, said Concord Management and Consulting could not have its case tossed on constitutional grounds. The Russian company accused of backing a social media effort to sway voters against Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton claimed Mueller didn't have power to bring the case because he was not appointment by the President and confirmed by Congress. Mueller was appointed under the authority of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who has broad power as the acting head of the Justice Department for the 2016 election probe."

The appointment does not violate core separation-of-powers principles. Nor has the Special Counsel exceeded his authority under the appointment order by investigating and prosecuting Concord," Friedrich wrote in an opinion published Monday morning. She was one of the first judges Trump placed into a federal court position.

Friedrich cited opinions by three other federal judges -- Amy Berman Jackson, who oversees Paul Manafort's criminal foreign lobbying case; T.S. Ellis, who oversees Manafort's financial fraud case; and DC District Court Chief Judge Beryl Howell -- to back up her decision.

All three judges also denied requests to invalidate Mueller's authority, with Howell writing as recently as late July that a witness subpoenaed to turn over documents and to testify before the grand jury about Roger Stone would have to. That witness, Andrew Miller, has been held in contempt of the court and now may appeal.