Donald Trump Indictment: Lawyers Oppose Broadcast of Former President's Arraignment on Tuesday
Lawyers representing former US President Donald Trump are seeking to block the broadcast of his arraignment in a New York court on Tuesday, citing concerns about security and the potential for a "circus-like atmosphere." The attorneys argue that allowing cameras and video coverage of the proceedings would only heighten these serious concerns.
In a letter sent to Acting New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchant, Trump's lawyers say that any broadcast would be inconsistent with President Trump's presumption of innocence and could create undue media attention. They also point out that potential security concerns related to Secret Service and other government agencies would be exacerbated by the presence of cameras and video crews.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office has responded to the request for camera access, stating that it is deferring to the judge's discretion on how to manage the courtroom proceedings. However, they note that excluding or restricting videography and photography could be a valid exercise of the court's authority to control the proceedings.
It's worth noting that there does not appear to be a categorical prohibition on cameras during an arraignment in New York law. In fact, the judge has allowed limited still photographs to be taken prior to previous proceedings.
The request for broadcast access comes as Trump is set to face charges related to alleged financial crimes at his former office building in Manhattan. The trial is expected to attract significant media attention, with CNN being one of several outlets requesting camera access for the arraignment.
Lawyers representing former US President Donald Trump are seeking to block the broadcast of his arraignment in a New York court on Tuesday, citing concerns about security and the potential for a "circus-like atmosphere." The attorneys argue that allowing cameras and video coverage of the proceedings would only heighten these serious concerns.
In a letter sent to Acting New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchant, Trump's lawyers say that any broadcast would be inconsistent with President Trump's presumption of innocence and could create undue media attention. They also point out that potential security concerns related to Secret Service and other government agencies would be exacerbated by the presence of cameras and video crews.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office has responded to the request for camera access, stating that it is deferring to the judge's discretion on how to manage the courtroom proceedings. However, they note that excluding or restricting videography and photography could be a valid exercise of the court's authority to control the proceedings.
It's worth noting that there does not appear to be a categorical prohibition on cameras during an arraignment in New York law. In fact, the judge has allowed limited still photographs to be taken prior to previous proceedings.
The request for broadcast access comes as Trump is set to face charges related to alleged financial crimes at his former office building in Manhattan. The trial is expected to attract significant media attention, with CNN being one of several outlets requesting camera access for the arraignment.
. Trump's lawyers are worried about security and a "circus-like atmosphere" but honestly, isn't that what you'd expect from a guy who's been accused of financial crimes? 
It feels like he's trying to control every aspect of his arraignment to avoid accountability.
. The Manhattan DA's office should be firm in their stance – the public has the right to know what's going down, even if it makes Trump uncomfortable.
. Maybe I'm just caught up in the drama of it all, but there's gotta be a way for the court to balance Trump's right to a fair trial with the public's right to know what's going on 
.
. I mean, we've seen similar requests denied before when it comes to high-profile cases, but Trump's team is trying to block broadcast of his arraignment? It's like they're trying to keep the whole thing under wraps! 
The DA's office is deferring to the judge's decision, which is fair, but Trump's team is trying to limit the exposure. It's like they're saying, "We'll take our chances without an audience!" 
I mean, it's not like Trump is going to suddenly become a model citizen overnight. And what's up with this "circus-like atmosphere" nonsense? It's just an arraignment, calm down! The lawyers are worried about security, but that's not unique to the broadcast - cameras have been there for other high-profile cases too. Just seems like another way to try and stifle public interest in a story that's going to be huge anyway 
. And what's with the security concerns? Like, seriously, his whole life is like a reality TV show, why can't we see this drama go down live 
... I mean, I get it, courts should be private and all that but c'mon, Trump's gotta face the music now 
. If CNN can get in, so can anyone else, let the public know what's really going on here 
. And what's with the security concerns? Is he planning on escaping in a puffy shirt or something? 
. The question is, will CNN get their camera access and be able to catch all the drama?