“There is far too much that needs to be done to improve the lives of our citizens. It is time for you and the highly partisan Democrats in Congress to immediately cease this impeachment fantasy and get back to work for the American People. While I have no expectation that you will do so, I write this letter to you for the purpose of history and to put my thoughts on a permanent and indelible record.

One hundred years from now, when people look back at this affair, I want them to understand it, and learn from it, so that it can never happen to another President again.”

With that, President Donald J. Trump concluded his letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for the benefit of the historical record.

On the same day, Senators Dianne Feinstein, Ron Wyden, and Gary Peters (Ranking Members , respectively, of the Judiciary, Finance, and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committees) to Committee Chairmen Lindsey Graham, Chuck Grassley, and Ron Johnson. Their letter reads in full:

You have stated your intent to investigate purported Ukrainian interference in the 2016 election and Vice President Joe Biden – the same investigations that President Trump pressed the Ukrainian government to announce that it would pursue.

Allegations of Ukrainian interference in the 2016 election are part of a Russian disinformation campaign. Dr. Fiona Hill, the former head of Russia and Ukraine policy for the National Security Council and formerly the top analyst for Russia at the National Intelligence Council, testified to Congress, with regard to these allegations: “This is a fictional narrative that is being perpetrated and propagated by the Russian security services themselves.” And Assistant Secretary of State George Kent testified that there is no evidence “whatsoever” of wrongdoing by Vice President Biden. Consequently, we do not see a basis for an investigation by three major Senate Committees into these discredited allegations and believe that doing so could advance the Russian disinformation and election interference efforts. We should not facilitate foreign interference in our 2020 election.

Should you chose to continue this effort, we ask, consistent with Senate Rule 26, that you provide us with any evidence that you have that supports the investigation.

As Donald Trump approaches his third anniversary in the White House, polarization, dysfunction, and disinformation rule.

What a long, strange trip it’s been. And it’s not nearly over.

(Image: Grateful Dead’s American Beauty album cover.)