Groucho Marx, Michael Flynn and a Sanctions Trial's Lighter Side

A money-laundering trial that started in Manhattan this week could deal a serious blow to Turkish-U.S. relations. Little wonder, then, that lawyers are grasping for moments of levity.

Groucho Marx and even ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn were among the apparent punchlines when prosecutors, defense lawyers and a federal judge huddled Wednesday morning before testimony in the trial of a Turkish banker.