April 3, 2023 Trump indictment news | CNN Politics

Trump Lawyers Oppose Live Broadcasting of Former President's Arraignment Amid Security Concerns.

In a letter to New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchant, lawyers for former President Donald Trump expressed their opposition to media outlets' requests to broadcast his arraignment on Tuesday. The team argued that live broadcasting could create a "circus-like atmosphere" and raise unique security concerns during the proceedings.

Trump's attorneys pointed out that court rules require judges to consider potential security risks when making decisions about live coverage. They specifically cited Secret Service-related concerns, which they claimed would be heightened by the presence of cameras and video crews in the courtroom.

The Manhattan District Attorney's office also responded to media requests for access, saying it was deferring to the judge's discretion to decide how to manage the proceedings. However, prosecutors noted that there is no categorical prohibition on cameras during an arraignment under existing New York statutes and case law.

In contrast, a similar request for audio-video broadcasting was made in 2021 for Trump Organization CEO Allen Weisselberg's tax fraud trial, and Judge Merchant allowed a limited number of still photographs to be taken prior to the commencement of proceedings. The Trump lawyers are now seeking to deny this type of access due to potential prejudice against their client and security concerns.

The arraignment is set to take place on Tuesday, but the status of media coverage remains uncertain at this point. As one of the outlets requesting camera access, CNN would be impacted by any decision made by Judge Merchant regarding live broadcasting.

I don't get why Trump's lawyers are being so paranoid about security concerns. Like, it's a public arraignment, what's the big deal? I mean, we already have cameras in our homes, can't they handle a few more in a courtroom? It's not like it's going to be some wild scene where Trump will just stand up and start yelling at everyone. And what about the public's right to know? If he's guilty of something, shouldn't we at least get to see him get arraigned in person? Plus, if security is really that big of a concern, maybe they should be worried more about Trump's tantrums than people filming the trial.

so unfair to trumps team they just wanna keep everything private like how many ppl want to see trump get held accountable for his actions but still dont wanna broadcast it in public eyes that sounds like a big ol circus act to me maybe instead of cameras they could have livestream on tv after its all done just dont wanna make trumps team nervous

come on guys, cant we just watch a guy get arraigned? its not like hes gonna jump outta court and start tweeting while hes in custody lol, security concerns or whatever... news outlets deserve some face time, plus think about all the eyes watching from home

I don't get why we can't even have a simple arraignment go down without all these drama-filled cameras and whatnot . I mean, come on, it's just a guy getting charged with some stuff - no need to make it into some circus. And now the lawyers are going off on about security concerns? Like, we're not exactly gonna get blown up in there or something . And honestly, can't the DA just say if they want cameras or not like a normal person? It's all so frustrating...

Ugh I feel so bad for Trump's team having to deal with all these security concerns ... I mean, I get it, safety first and all that but it's like he's trying to hide something or avoid scrutiny? Either way, can't imagine how intense this arraignment is gonna be . Is the Secret Service really going to create a 'circus-like atmosphere' just by showing up to an arraignment?

I feel for Trump's team, I guess they really are worried about security concerns. It's true that live broadcasts can create a super chaotic atmosphere in court, and safety should always come first . But at the same time, it's also kinda interesting to see how things would play out if cameras were allowed to roll during the arraignment. I mean, it could add some drama to the proceedings, you know? And honestly, I think CNN is gonna be super keen on getting a shot of Trump's reaction when he's being arraigned - that could be some juicy TV material .

I feel bad for Trump, I mean, it's his day and all, but can't he just take a deep breath and own what's coming? It's not like it's the end of the world! And honestly, can we talk about how over-the-top this security thing is getting? Like, cameras in the courtroom? Are they worried about Trump breaking out into song or something?

It's just one day, and then he'll be free to go. Let him get it over with, right? And what's with all these lawyers and judges trying to control the narrative? Can't we just have a little transparency and honesty for once? Transparency would be nice... even if it is just a simple "he's guilty" or "he's innocent".