How the outcome of former President Trump’s criminal investigation is intertwined with the nation’s future

Twelve jurors are on deck and former President Donald Trump’s first criminal trial is racing toward its climax.

The investigation is inextricably intertwined with the country’s future and the former president’s bid to reclaim the White House. A panel of jurors will have to decide whether the defense was effective in eliciting testimony from star witness Michael Cohen, Trump’s former fixer, and whether there was anything wrong with the case.

To convict Trump, the prosecution must prove that he knew he falsified the records and that he did it for political gain. But there are questions about whether the jury should be unanimous about what he “predicted.”

In “The Road to a Referendum,” we explore questions such as how long the jury might be out. The possibility of a mistrial or even a barred jury. And what if there is a penalty? Are there avenues of appeal and possible jail time?

Some court analysts say that if the prosecution proves its case beyond a reasonable doubt, the jury may still choose to acquit and not like the case for some reason.

Jeremy Rosenthal, a skilled litigator who knows how to put cases together and take them apart, joins me for this week’s live streaming episode of “The Road to the Vote. Rosenthal was a lawyer before becoming a defense attorney. He will provide unique insight into the Trump criminal case.

Watch “Road to the Poll” live Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. on News4JAX+, News4JAX YouTube Channel and News4JAX.com. Or you can watch it anytime on demand. We’ll also have an encore presentation on News4JAX+ on Tuesday at 7 p.m.