Donald Trump goes off the deep end after his lawyer Ty Cobb quits

Donald Trump launched into a tirade this morning about the Trump-Russia investigation that was jarring even by his standards, making clear that something was amiss, both in his camp and in his head. Sure enough, Trump’s meltdown coincided with the resignation of his Trump-Russia scandal attorney Ty Cobb in the wake of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s damning interview questions for Trump. But this is even uglier for Trump than what’s being reported, and we suspect Trump may have figured out why Cobb’s departure is so uniquely bad for him.

Here’s what Trump tweeted as Ty Cobb was leaving the building: “A Rigged System – They don’t want to turn over Documents to Congress. What are they afraid of? Why so much redacting? Why such unequal “justice?” At some point I will have no choice but to use the powers granted to the Presidency and get involved!” Trump then hired attorney Emmet Flood, whose history suggests he’ll be as uncomfortable with the idea of attacking Robert Mueller as Cobb was. So Trump’s generic threat to go on a rampage is probably a bluff. Instead he may have been set off by what Cobb’s resignation really means.

Cobb was never really Trump’s lawyer to begin with, because Trump had stashed him on the White House payroll. That meant they never had any attorney-client privilege. Trump stopped listening to Cobb’s advice a long time ago, but presumably kept him around on the payroll in the hope it would keep him loyal. Cobb’s resignation today can be taken as a sign that he can’t be bought, and that he’s going to do his legal duty by testifying to Mueller about everything Trump ever said to him.

In that context, Donald Trump’s angry explosion this morning may be because he just realized Ty Cobb is selling him out in the name of justice.