“His goose is cooked” – Richard Painter talks Donald Trump plea deal and resignation

| 8:08 pm EST December 13, 2018
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In the six days since the SDNY formally accused Donald Trump of two felonies, it’s become clear that he’ll be indicted and arrested the minute he’s no longer president. It’s also clear that his kids will be arrested while he’s still in office. Palmer Report has explained that this boxes Trump in, to where his only shot at criminal leniency is to negotiate a resignation deal. Now a legal expert is saying the same thing, only more forcefully.

Former White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter appeared on MSNBC and spelled it out like this: “Donald Trump is in serious trouble. His lawyers ought to be telling him to negotiate a plea deal. It’s time to negotiate a comprehensive plea deal for Donald Trump and his family members. Include federal and state charges. Reduced charges in exchange for his resignation.” Then he added, “It’s quite clear his goose is cooked here.”

This is, logically speaking, probably the only way this can end. For all his various psychological failings and delusions, every time he’s figured out that his business schemes have failed, and that he has no other way forward, he’s negotiated bankruptcy. While Trump is clearly slipping in the cognitive department, there is every reason to expect that – for all his bluster – he can be convinced to cut a resignation plea deal.

Donald Trump knows he can’t stop the legal process from closing in on him and his family, or he’d be making moves to try to stop it. Instead he’s just blustering, which means he knows he has no winning way out of this. In the end, the question will be how much prison time and asset forfeiture he’s willing to agree to as part of his resignation deal. If prosecutors are looking to jolt Trump into understanding that he’s lost and it’s over, arresting one of his kids would be the next logical step.