Why an indictment may help Trump — and threaten the GOP

Trump allies quickly turned the impending charges against the ex-president into a litmus test for the rest of the Republican field.

Even Trump’s GOP detractors began to see the writing on the wall.

If he is arrested this week, it will once more frame the early stages of the presidential primary around him.

Republicans say he will benefit from a short-term rush of support.

One nagging fear of some Trump critics is that the case against him may prove to be weak, and that beating it could further embolden him.

It’s possible that Trump is overplaying his hand, with his call to “Protest, take our nation back!” and with a rally on Saturday in Waco, Texas.