I think many of us fail to appreciate the seriousness of Trump's screw-ups this week, which appear to include at least two violations of 18 USC ss 793:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/793
The interesting part about it is that if he leaves the race, the national security threat he presents is largely eased, so if it's a choice between getting his ass kicked and facing prison, or leaving now and being able to continue being a rich asshole, I think he'll take the deal.
If that happens, according to my research so far, the RNC can apply Rule 9 of their Party Rules:
RULE NO. 9
Filling Vacancies in Nominations
(a) The Republican National Committee is hereby authorized and empowered to fill any and all vacancies which may occur by reason of death, declination, or otherwise of the Republican candidate for President of the United States or the Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States, as nominated by the national convention, or the Republican National Committee may reconvene the national convention for the purpose of filling any such vacancies.
(b) In voting under this rule, the Republican National Committee members representing any state shall be entitled to
cast the same number of votes as said state was entitled to cast at the national convention.
(c) In the event that the members of the Republican National Committee from any state shall not be in agreement in the casting of votes hereunder, the votes of such state shall be divided equally, including fractional votes, among the members of the Republican National Committee present or voting by proxy.
(d) No candidate shall be chosen to fill any such vacancy except upon receiving a majority of the votes entitled to be
cast in the election.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/prod-static-ngop-pbl/docs/Rules_of_the_Republican+Party_FINAL_S14090314.pdf
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The obvious first choice would be Paul Ryan, the only guy smart enough to sit this one out. But he might just be smart enough to continue sitting it out. They all hate Ted Cruz, so he won't be seriously considered. Rubio is now committed to a critical Senate race that Republicans have to win. Christie might be able to make a good case for it, as well as Kasich.
But so too could Jeb!, who is still sitting on a mountain of campaign cash, assuming he hasn't blown it all yet. Even better, it would be right up Rove's alley, the ultimate back-room deal for all the marbles, the way he's always tried to game it.
There is still nearly 100 days left in this campaign and the RNC would like nothing better than a do-over, without the input of the mere people they so despise. So the pressure on Trump to drop out will soon be coming from all angles, if my guess about his transgressions are correct.
By the way, if I call this one correct, DU gods, I will wish to change my screen name....
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