Former President Donald J. Trump has so much at stake within the federal prison case lodged in opposition to him. He may, in principle, go to jail for years. But if he winds up within the dock in entrance of a jury, it’s no exaggeration to counsel that American justice can be on trial as nicely.

History’s first federal indictment against a former president poses one of many gravest challenges to democracy the nation has ever confronted. It represents both a validation of the rule-of-law precept that even essentially the most highly effective face accountability for his or her actions or the second when an enormous swath of the general public turns into satisfied that the system has been irredeemably corrupted by partisanship.

Mr. Trump, his allies and even a few of his Republican rivals have launched into a technique to encourage the latter view, arguing that legislation enforcement has been hijacked by President Biden and the Democrats to take out his strongest opponent for re-election subsequent yr. Few if any of them bothered to attend to learn the indictment earlier than backing Mr. Trump’s all-caps assertion that it was merely a part of the “GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME.” It is now an article of religion, a default tactic or each.

Jack Smith, the particular counsel, and his prosecutors knew that protection was coming and have labored to keep away from any trace of political motivation with a by-the-book method, securing the assent of judges and grand jurors alongside the best way. Moreover, their indictment laid out a damning collection of details primarily based on safety digital camera video, textual content messages and testimony from inside Mr. Trump’s personal group; even some who’ve defended him prior to now say it will likely be tougher to brush apart the proof in a courtroom than within the courtroom of public opinion.

In the general public enviornment, although, it might be a one-sided combat. Mr. Trump and his allies can scream as loudly as they will that the system is unfair, however prosecutors are certain by guidelines limiting how a lot they will say in response. To the extent that Democrats defend prosecutors, it might solely buttress the purpose Mr. Trump is making an attempt to make to the viewers he’s making an attempt to succeed in.

“I think the verdict on democracy ultimately comes down to Republican leaders and Republican voters,” stated David Jolly, a former Republican congressman from Florida who left the celebration throughout the Trump presidency. “Their current weaponization narrative is dangerous and destabilizing, but seems to reflect the party’s early consensus. If they don’t pivot soon to due process and faith in the system, I think we could have very dark days ahead. I do worry.”

Polls counsel that Mr. Trump has made headway in persuading at the very least his personal supporters that any and all allegations in opposition to him are simply political. After the Manhattan district lawyer, Alvin L. Bragg, introduced state fees in opposition to him associated to hush money paid to an adult film actress, the previous president’s assist amongst Republicans rose, reasonably than fell.

While 60 p.c of all adults surveyed by CNN afterward authorized of the fees, 76 p.c agreed that politics performed a job within the prosecution. As for the impact on America’s system, 31 p.c stated the indictment strengthened democracy, whereas 31 p.c stated it weakened it.

All of which signifies that the system’s credibility is on the road in a manner it has not been earlier than. Many have criticized American justice through the years for systemic racism, extreme punishment, mistreatment of ladies subjected to assault or different points, however they didn’t command the bullhorn of the presidency. When previous presidents like Richard M. Nixon or Bill Clinton acquired in hassle, they defended themselves aggressively, however didn’t name the entire system into query.

“In 1972 to 1974, the Republicans participated as good-faith members of the process,” stated Garrett Graff, the writer of “Watergate: A New History,” revealed final yr. “They saw their roles as legislators first and Republicans second. They definitely were skeptical” initially of the allegations in opposition to Nixon, “but they followed the facts where they led.”

Even Nixon’s sharp-tongued vice chairman, Spiro T. Agnew, was cautious about disparaging the justice system broadly. “Agnew, of course, was Nixon’s attack dog, but mainly against the press, not the F.B.I. or the special prosecutor,” Mr. Graff stated.

Mr. Trump, alternatively, is holding nothing again as he assails “the ‘Thugs’ from the Department of Injustice” and calls Mr. Smith a “deranged lunatic.” Republicans like Representative Andy Biggs of Arizona have known as for dismantling the F.B.I. “We have now reached a war phase,” he wrote on Twitter on Friday. “Eye for an eye.” Elon Musk stated the authorities had been exhibiting “far higher interest in pursuing Trump in comparison with different individuals in politics.”

Several of Mr. Trump’s opponents for the Republican presidential nomination joined in. Former Vice President Mike Pence in contrast the indictment to leaders of “third-world nations” who “use a criminal justice system in their country against their predecessors.” Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida stated “the weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal menace to a free society.”

The former president’s defenders usually don’t deal with the substance of the 37 counts in opposition to him, however as a substitute make a case of selective prosecution that resonates powerfully amongst many Republicans: What about Mr. Biden? What about Hunter Biden? What about Hillary Clinton?

They level to the origin of the Russia investigation in opposition to Mr. Trump, citing the recent report by the special counsel John H. Durham that harshly criticized the F.B.I. for its dealing with of the case though it didn’t provide you with any new blockbuster revelations of politically motivated misconduct nor outcome within the conviction of any main determine.

They level to Republican congressional inquiries that they are saying trace at wrongdoing by the Bidens even with out affirmation. They level to the persevering with federal prison investigation of the president’s son Hunter, suggesting it has been impeded. And they level to the truth that the president himself can be below investigation over retaining classified documents but not charged.

The variations between the instances, nevertheless, are stark, making apples-to-apples comparisons difficult. In the paperwork investigation, as an example, Mr. Biden’s advisers by all accounts thus far returned the papers to the authorities promptly after discovering them. Mr. Pence did the identical after a voluntary search discovered that the previous vice chairman had kept classified documents, and he was not too long ago cleared by the Justice Department as a result of there was no proof of willful violations of the legislation.

Mr. Trump, in contrast, refused at hand over all of the paperwork he had taken from the White House — even after being subpoenaed for them. According to the indictment, he orchestrated an expansive scheme to cover papers and feed lies to authorities looking for them. On two events, the indictment charged, Mr. Trump confirmed secret paperwork to individuals with out safety clearance and indicated that he knew he was not alleged to.

As for looking for to weaponize the Justice Department, there was ample proof that Mr. Trump sought to do exactly that whereas in workplace. He brazenly and aggressively pushed his attorneys normal to prosecute his perceived enemies and drop cases against his friends and allies, making no pretense that he was looking for equal and unbiased justice. His friends-and-family approach to his pardon power prolonged clemency to associates and people who had entry to him via them.

He chipped away at so many norms throughout his 4 years in workplace that it’s no marvel that establishments have confronted credibility issues. Indeed, he has made clear that he doesn’t respect the boundaries that constrained different presidents. Since leaving workplace, he has known as for “termination” of the Constitution in order that he could possibly be returned to energy with out ready for one more election and vowed that he would commit a second time period to “retribution” in opposition to his foes whereas pardoning supporters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to cease the switch of energy.

There is not any identified proof, alternatively, that Mr. Biden has performed any position within the investigations in opposition to Mr. Trump. Unlike the voluble Mr. Trump, he has made some extent of not even publicly commenting on particular person prosecutions, saying he respects the autonomy of the Justice Department.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has been delicate to the matter of notion and sought to insulate the inquiries by appointing Mr. Smith, a profession prosecutor who is just not registered with both political celebration, as a particular counsel with a assure of independence absent manifest wrongdoing on his half.

But that was by no means going to persuade Mr. Trump or his most fervent supporters of the equity of the method. At backside, the previous president and front-runner for his celebration’s nomination to be the following president is being charged by a prosecutor appointed by an appointee of the person he hopes to beat. It is a recipe for mistrust, particularly when stoked by a defendant who has mastered the politics of grievance and victimhood.

Will that lead to lasting harm to democracy? Even some who assist charging Mr. Trump concern that it might. Still, some who’ve studied politically fraught investigations endorsed persistence. There can be fireworks. Many will doubt the credibility of the system. But in the long run, they stated, the system will survive simply because it has for greater than two centuries.

“It’s messy and uncomfortable for the generation living through it, but the system is durable enough to win out,” stated Ken Gormley, the president of Duquesne University and the writer of books on Watergate and the Clinton investigations. “As painful as the following yr is more likely to be because the prison justice system grinds ahead towards a good verdict within the Mar-a-Lago paperwork case — no matter that end result could also be — we’re lucky that our predecessors have spent 234 years shoring up the bulwark.”