Trump Team Tries to Block Live Broadcast of Former President's Arraignment Over Security Concerns
A lawyer representing former US President Donald Trump told a New York judge on Monday that his team opposes media outlets' request to broadcast Trump's arraignment on Tuesday, citing concerns over creating a "circus-like atmosphere" and raising security risks.
In a letter to Acting New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchant, Trump's attorneys argued that allowing video or photography of the proceedings would only heighten these serious concerns, particularly Secret Service-related threats. The team also highlighted that the case presents extraordinary security concerns.
The lawyers pointed out that a similar request for audio-video broadcasting was made for the 2021 arraignment in the tax fraud case against Trump Organization and its CFO Allen Weisselberg. In response to this request, Judge Merchant allowed a limited number of still photographs to be taken before proceedings began.
However, the Manhattan District Attorney's office has not opposed the media outlets' request outright but instead stated that it would be defensible for the judge to exclude or restrict videography, photography, and radio coverage of the arraignment in order to maintain an orderly proceeding, ensure safety, or address other concerns within its broad authority.
Despite this, prosecutors acknowledged there is no categorical prohibition on cameras during an arraignment under existing New York statutes and case law. The office's lawyer noted that a similar request was made for the 2021 arraignment in the tax fraud case against Trump Organization and its CFO Allen Weisselberg.
The decision comes as CNN and other media outlets are among those requesting camera access for Tuesday's arraignment.
A lawyer representing former US President Donald Trump told a New York judge on Monday that his team opposes media outlets' request to broadcast Trump's arraignment on Tuesday, citing concerns over creating a "circus-like atmosphere" and raising security risks.
In a letter to Acting New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchant, Trump's attorneys argued that allowing video or photography of the proceedings would only heighten these serious concerns, particularly Secret Service-related threats. The team also highlighted that the case presents extraordinary security concerns.
The lawyers pointed out that a similar request for audio-video broadcasting was made for the 2021 arraignment in the tax fraud case against Trump Organization and its CFO Allen Weisselberg. In response to this request, Judge Merchant allowed a limited number of still photographs to be taken before proceedings began.
However, the Manhattan District Attorney's office has not opposed the media outlets' request outright but instead stated that it would be defensible for the judge to exclude or restrict videography, photography, and radio coverage of the arraignment in order to maintain an orderly proceeding, ensure safety, or address other concerns within its broad authority.
Despite this, prosecutors acknowledged there is no categorical prohibition on cameras during an arraignment under existing New York statutes and case law. The office's lawyer noted that a similar request was made for the 2021 arraignment in the tax fraud case against Trump Organization and its CFO Allen Weisselberg.
The decision comes as CNN and other media outlets are among those requesting camera access for Tuesday's arraignment.
. I mean, whats the big deal? Its just a public court case, right? Can't they just let us watch it on live TV like normal people 
. It feels like they're trying to hide something from us. And security concerns are just an excuse, if you ask me. What do they really have to hide? 
I'm all about transparency, you know? 
Trump's team is trying to block a live broadcast of his arraignment on Tuesday citing security concerns, but let's be real, folks, isn't that just a fancy way of saying "we don't want you watching"? 
#TruthMatters #JusticeMustBeServed #LiveBroadcastsForThePeople
but i guess security is top priority and all that jazz 
so yeah maybe its good idea to limit cameras or whatever. what do u think tho, would u want to see trump get arraigned live on tv 
Can't they just let us see what's going on? I mean, it's not like Trump is going to use magic powers or anything during his arraignment... 
A "circus-like atmosphere" sounds like a pretty weak excuse to me. And security concerns? Please, we've seen more drama at a Kardashian wedding 