I hear you on taking the plea, but I can't imagine myself on that one standing in front of the judge and saying, "guilty" for anything higher than misdemeanor drunk and/or disorderly conduct. I really feel for this guy if they try to make it some kind of felony assault.

True, but my guess is they are going to try to make an example of him rather than offer him something far below what a judge would reasonably sentence him to, which changes the calculus. There is also no way they are going to get 12 jurors to vote to convict in DC if he has halfway decent counsel.