How Trump's appeal could take years: Inside legal battle that could stretch far beyond the election and include Stormy Daniels' salacious testimony

A Manhattan jury's guilty verdict on 34 counts isn't the end of Donald Trump's legal struggle in the Stormy Daniels case – it is just the beginning of what will be a lengthy appeals process.

Trump, whose lawyers dragged out a subpoena for tax information for years while he was in president and who have successfully delayed federal cases in Washington, D.C. and Georgia, have already said they will appeal.

Legal experts say it could be years until they are done.

'We'll keep fighting. We'll fight til the end and we'll win, because our country's gone to hell,' a defiant Trump said Thursday shortly after the verdict came in.

During a half hour statement at Trump Tower Friday, Trump touched on two areas that his team will raise on appeal – the location of the trial and the judge. 

We wanted a venue change where we could have a fair trial. We didn't get it,' he fumed. 'We wanted a judge who wasn't conflicted,' he said.

That process is certain to extend beyond the November elections, and could run beyond a year.

Former President Donald Trump blasted the verdict and attacked the judge as 'conflicted.' His lawyer Todd Blanche, r, has said there were 'unfair' and vowed to fight the verdict 'vigorously'

Trump's move to appeal will come within weeks, said lawyer Todd Blanche.

'We have motions due in a couple weeks in front of Judge Merchan, which we're going to vigorously fight,' he told CNN. 

He didn't tip his hand, but said there were 'Things that happened during the trial that we think just made the trial unfair, including the testimony of Ms. Daniels. If that is not successful then as soon as we can appeal, we will,' he said. 

He was referencing testimony by the former porn star that got into highly personal areas. She testified that Trump did not wear a condom during their 2006 sexual encounter, which Trump denies ever happened.

She even described the 'missionary' position of the alleged sex, and said she spanked Trump with a magazine during their encounter in a Lake Tahoe hotel room. 

Judge Merchan expressed surprise when Trump's team complained about the testimony that they hadn't raised more objections.

Trump himself referenced 'salacious' parts of the trial that had 'nothing to do with the case.'

Blanche would file notice of appeal within weeks. The entire process could drag on for more than a year

Trump blasted Judge Juan Merchan for allowing 'salacious' testimony by porn star Stormy Daniels

The appeal process follows a criminal trial that ran five weeks. Any Trump sentence that is imposed would almost certainly be put on hold pending appeal

Trump on Friday complained about 'salacious' testimony by porn star Stormy Daniels. Legal experts believe that is an area Trump's team will raise on appeal

Trump's next move will be at the Appellate Division Courthouse of New York State, First Department. He could also try to involve the U.S. Supreme Court

Retired New York Judge George Grasso agreed Trump's team would raise that issue on appeal.  

'They’re going to claim that the testimony of Stormy Daniels was too salacious, outside the bounds, prejudiced the jury,' he told Reuters.

Trump's next step will be to turn to the Appellate Division, First Department to try to overturn his 34-count conviction.

One upside beyond the chance of reversing the decision: Trump can almost certainly suspend any prison sentence pending the appeal.

He must inform the court of his intention to appeal within 30 days of Thursday's verdict. 

'We are going to appeal as quickly as we can,' Trump lawyer Will Scharf told Fox News. 'We will seek expedited review of this case.' 

Trump's team isn't ruling out trying to bring the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which decided to intervene in his Washington, D.C. election interference case by hearing his claims of presidential immunity. 

'Actually, Trump could get this up to the U.S. Supreme Court and ultimately prevail, John Yoo, a former Justice Department official during the George W. Bush administration, told Fox News.

President Joe Biden even addressed Trump's right to appeal during remarks at the White House, where he defended the jury process and condemned Trump's 'reckless' decision to call the trial 'rigged just because you don't like the verdict.'

He said Trump has the 'opportunity to appeal that decision just like everyone else has that opportunity. That’s how the American system works,' he said.