[dread78645]

You think that the prosecution has money laundering & trafficking in their pocket, yet they are spending all this time and energy trying for the crown jewel of convictions - doctor shopping?????

No. I said if there is a plea, It won't be a misdemeanor plea, but a symbolic felony plea for the political spin.
I don't think the money laundering is a slam dunk considering Rush's claim of blackmail. The trafficking is likely a given since that is the way the law is written.

But back to the hypothetical situation of a plea bargain ...
Rarely do people plead to the higher charge. In exchange for dropping the more serious, they'll plea to the lesser charge. In this case: Doctor shopping.

[HighWheeler]

Sorry about that, I saw the "if"s in the first and third statements and assumed they didn't cover the second assertion.

If the prosecution had anything powerful, they sure wouldn't be diluting it by going after doctor shopping.