While it is not quite certain how it ends. That the Trump Presidency is crashing to an end is certain. The proof lies in the increasingly desperate measures the President and those surrounding him are taking to stave off impending disaster. They have taken to distraction as their only means of defense because the facts are not on their side.
Because of the nature of news cycles, it’s easy to forget that Gen. Michael Flynn, one of Trump’s closest advisors, long ago became a cooperating witness, presumably against Trump. His son Donald Jr, along with Jared Kushner and Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort, have had multiple undisclosed meetings with Russians, all of which they lied about, sometimes to the FBI which is in and of itself a crime.
Trump’s personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, blatantly sold access to the President, collecting millions of dollars based on promises only one man could deliver on. One thing Trump would have learned at the side of the New York mob figures he associated with, is to always get his cut. Trump did business with the Salerno and Castellano crime families, whose ready-mix concrete built Trump Tower, along with hundreds of undocumented Polish workers he paid $4 an hour, often working without gloves and hardhats. Trump was never so rattled as when the FBI raided the offices/hotel/home of Michael Cohen and carted off all his records. Imagine the strength of the evidence required to get search warrants against the President’s lawyer? Trump got his cut and the FBI now has the records.
Trump’s ability to avoid prosecution throughout his life had depended greatly on his ability to pay off would be regulators. It’s why the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement never followed up seriously on complaints against Trump. Why Pam Bondi failed to investigate the fraudulent Trump University after he donated $25,000 to he re-election campaign for Florida Attorney General. He bragged about buying favors from politicians during the Presidential campaign which is one of the few times he told the truth.
“Follow the money,” is an axiom often used in law enforcement. Following Trump’s money shows a seedy trail of money laundering and a flow of Russian money into Trump’s coffers. Trump hotels in Toronto, Panama, condo’s in New York and Florida, golf courses around the world all show Russian money buying his properties at overinflated prices. Special Counsel Robert Mueller has the data and cannot be bought off which is a devastating combination for Trump.
There is no quick and easy process to remove a President, no matter how incompetent or criminal. Trump is not likely to resign, an indictment of a sitting President is unlikely, Impeachment remains the most viable option. The current Republican-controlled Congress is not inclined to impeach Trump but the evidence has yet to be presented. Robert Mueller and the condemning words of cooperating witnesses Michael Fynn, Felix Sater, George Papadopoulos and others will place the nails in the coffin. Look for someone else close to the President; Michael Cohen, Donald Jr, Jared Kushner or even Ivanka to save themselves and spike the nails tight.
It will get messier before it ends. Look for Trump to do any and everything to derail the investigation including firing Robert Mueller and any in the Justice Department that stands in his way. Nixon tried it to no avail and it won’t work for Trump either. Trumps supporters in Congress will melt away as their own reelections take precedence over the support of the mortally wounded President. They will slink away before their own appeasement and support get too close a look.
Impeachment itself will be messy. Republicans in the House will try to explain away the evidence as it comes out bit by bit. But the Impeachment will be televised. The public will see for themselves what others have worked so hard to help hide. The House will ultimately vote to impeach and send the matter to the Senate for trial.
The Senate will take it up reluctantly, they will send a representative to the President to try to convince him to resign, he doesn’t have the votes. Fox News, however, will tell Trump what he wants to hear. They will tell him to stand fast, the evidence is tainted, he’s the victim of a “Deep State.” The Senate will vote him out because they ultimately are self-serving and they can get more done with a Pence than a mortally wounded Trump. Bill Clinton was able to not only survive but to thrive after facing Impeachment hearings. The feeling then was that the punishment didn’t fit the crime. Donald Trump has literally sold out his country and will get no such pass.
As far as the timeframe, Impeachment won’t likely come until after the mid-term elections in November. Whether the Democrats retake the House or not, the margins will favor Trump less and his crimes will be acknowledged by enough to take up the case. While Trump and his allies try to convince us of conspiracies, spies, and lies. The Impeachment will be televised, Trump’s end nearer each day.
