Trump at the center of multiple criminal investigations; guilty of some himself.

Remember when President Richard Nixon's White House Counsel, John Dean, told him that there was a cancer growing on his presidency.   Experts agree that the "cancer" Dean was referring to is small compared to what is being revealed of the crimes that Donald Trump is at the center of.

Look at the list of six Trump entities that are currently under federal criminal investigation:

   1.  The Trump Presidential Campaign.   Its one-time chief strategist has been convicted and awaits sentencing.
   2.  The Trump Transition Team.  Its deputy chair pled guilty.
   3.  The Trump Inauguration Committee for possible illegal sources of donations and lack of accountability of spending.   Probable scandal has already caused the chair to resign his position with the RNC.
   4.  The Trump Administration.   Multiple resignations under taint of scandal.
   5.  The Trump Organization.     Lots of questions lurking there about illegal financial matters.
   6.  The Trump Foundation.   Charges pending against Eric and Ivanka on this.

In addition, Trump University was sued by students for fraud, paid a $25 million fine, and shut down.    Trump has also been sued numerous times in connection with his various businesses.    And he is highly suspect now of having engaged in money laundering, bank fraud, and wire fraud involving foreign individuals and, maybe, foreign governments.

His former lawyer (Michael Cohen) has been sentenced to three years in prison.   One campaign strategist (Paul Manafort) has been convicted of crimes and awaits sentencing, as does his first National Security Adviser (Flynn).   The deputy chair of his Transition Team (Gates) pled guilty and made a cooperation plea bargain.  Two of his minor campaign advisers have already served short prison terms.   There have been dozens of staffers and associates that have been interviewed by the FBI or the Mueller team.  Others are probable targets of parts of the investigation (Roger Stone, maybe Jared Kushner, Don Jr., and others).   More indictments undoubtedly will be forthcoming.

And Trump himself, arguably, has committed a crime in ordering his lawyer to make hush money payments to women and covering it up -- felonies as campaign finance violations.    Trump and his lawyer Giuliani have argued at various times:   (1)  that he knew nothing about the payments;   (2)  that he did know, but he did not direct Cohen to make the payments;  (3)  that they were perfectly legal because they had nothing to do with the campaign (not true);  (4)  that even if they were illegal, they were not major crimes that justify impeachment.

But the fact is that Michael Cohen has a tape recording of their discussing one of the payments and how to conceal it;  and he has told prosecutors that Trump directed him to make the payments.   And the fact is that the head of the parent organization of the National Enquirer is cooperating with the investigators about payment to kill the story of another Trump affair -- and there is evidence of Trump being in the room when the details were being discussed.

So there is good evidence to charge Trump with two felonies, just on the campaign finance violations alone.   But that will be small potatoes when Mueller reveals evidence he has of money laundering and financial fraud involving foreign individuals, if not also foreign governments.

So how do we get rid of such a crime-infested president and the corruption he has brought and fostered in his administration?    In addition to his own crimes, three cabinet members have had to resign for abuse of power and financial scandals;  another (Wilbur Ross) is said to be deeply into international money laundering schemes.

Just be patient.   It's all coming out . . . and at an accelerating speed.    I now seriously doubt that Trump will finish his first term.

My hope is for a plea deal, in which they offer him immunity from prosecution in exchange for his resignation.   Yes, part of me wants to see him do some jail time.   But, like President Gerald Ford's reasoning in pardoning Nixon, this country needs to begin to heal right now.    An impeachment fight and subsequent legal battles taking up years would keep us divided and breaking apart for years to come.

The immunity agreement could require that Trump admit to crimes and not just sweep it under the rug.   But it's urgent that we get rid of this cancer -- quickly and thoroughly.

Ralph