Trump on Trial: Legal Drama Unfolds, Brace Yourself for the Legal Battle of the Century

As Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, aptly described it, "Everything about this case is, in my view, legally absurd." He further elaborated, "You know, this case is basically a state misdemeanor that had run out on the statute of limitations. And Bragg was forced, after he declined for a long time to bring this charge, to do so. His predecessor rejected it. And so they took a...dead misdemeanor and bootstrapped it into effectively trying a federal crime. But the federal crime here, under election law, was rejected by the Department of Justice -- they didn't feel that this should be charged."

The trial's centerpiece will be the testimony of Michael Cohen, Trump's former personal attorney and fixer, who Turley pointedly remarked "just recently had a judge call him a serial perjurer." Cohen's credibility will undoubtedly be "eminently attackable," as John Malcolm, Vice President of the Heritage Foundation, astutely observed, given Cohen's bone to pick with the former president and his own legal transgressions.

While New York may not be the most hospitable venue for Trump -- part of the reason his legal team sought to move the case out of Manhattan -- the jury pool's political leanings could offer a sliver of hope. As one source noted, "New York isn't D.C. in the same way. There are still plenty of Republicans who live in New York. So, I don't think it'll be as straightforward to convict him as it would be in a jurisdiction like D.C."

Regardless of the outcome, Trump's legal team may have an ace up their sleeve. As Turley explained, "The second issue involves a fairly standard motion that occurs when you believe that the jury may not agree that the big ticket item of a charge, the felonies, is proven, and you want the court to give an instruction saying you can always convict on a lesser included offense - in this case a misdemeanor." While Trump may resist this strategy due to personal reasons, Turley argues it could prove "a very significant advantage for him."

The trial's impact on Trump's 2024 presidential campaign is undeniable, as he becomes the first current or former president to face criminal charges. As one Republican strategist, Dave Carney, predicted, "There will be such coverage of his court cases that at times I would bet there will be more reporters covering his stakeout than covering the president."

While President Biden's campaign has largely shied away from direct comments on Trump's legal woes, allies and surrogates may launch sharper attacks as the trial progresses. The president's campaign stops in Pennsylvania this week -- where he is expected to spotlight his plans to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans -- are seen as counter-programming to Trump's trial.

Ultimately, the trial's outcome may have little sway on Trump's reputation among voters, as conservative author Henry Olsen noted, "I do not think that this particular trial is going to change things very much if he is convicted." The "Teflon Don" moniker seems to hold true, with Trump once again outpacing his Republican primary competitors and even President Biden in several head-to-head matchups, despite the looming indictments and gag orders.

As the curtain rises on this unprecedented legal drama, one thing is certain -- the nation's eyes will be fixated on the courtroom, captivated by a saga that could redefine the boundaries of political and legal norms. Buckle up, America, for this promises to be a wild ride.