Former President Donald Trump now faces four criminal trials. There are two federal indictments and two state court indictments, the most recent an exhaustive RICO indictment in Georgia. The key allegations in these indictments charge Mr. Trump with felonious efforts to override the 2020 presidential election result.

These indictments are historic firsts in several respects. No former president has ever been indicted and no major presidential contender has ever faced a criminal trial during campaign months. Moreover, the indictments have not dropped into a placid America. They come at a time when Americans are more divided than they have been for many years. Indeed, a substantial number of Americans, urged on by Mr. Trump, apparently believe that the indictments are phony political vehicles launched against Mr. Trump without any basis in fact or law. A substantial number of Americans strongly disagree and believe that America’s democracy itself is on the line. These conflicting views have been spread in detail by broadcast and print media aligned with one or the other of the opposing sides.