(CNN)Let's be clear. Friday's filings by federal prosecutors backed President Donald Trump into a corner. And his Monday morning
rage-tweeting indicates he may be beginning to grasp his limited options moving forward.
This anger is an understandable reaction. In every direction, shame and loss await him.
Here's why. Trump could now face prosecution for criminal offenses should he lose the election and leave office in January 2021 -- if not sooner. More specifically, Trump was implicated by prosecutors in several felonies, namely campaign finance offenses stemming from the pre-election hush-money payoffs to
Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels.
As charges against Michael Cohen
indicated, the $150,000 payment to McDougal was an illegal corporate contribution, which Cohen caused a magazine publisher to make to the Trump presidential campaign. Corporations
are barred from making any direct campaign contributions; they are only permitted to spend money independently. And the $130,000 payment to Daniels was an unlawfully excessive contribution made by Cohen to the campaign, as it was above the individual limit of $2,700. Both payments, prosecutors allege, were made at the direction of Trump himself.
Fortunately for Trump, there is a deal to be made. However, his stubborn refusal to show weakness and cut his losses might result in a criminal trial and future prison sentence for the 45th President.