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.