Trump Indictment Arraignment: Lawyers Oppose Media Broadcasting, citing Security Concerns and Presumption of Innocence.
The lawyers representing former US President Donald Trump have urged a New York judge to deny media organizations' requests to broadcast his upcoming arraignment on Tuesday. The team, which includes lawyer Todd Blanche, claims that allowing camera access would create a "circus-like atmosphere" at the court proceeding and raise unique security concerns for the Secret Service.
In a letter sent to Acting New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchant, Trump's attorneys argued that the media request is inconsistent with the president's presumption of innocence. They pointed out that any video or photography during the arraignment could exacerbate potential security concerns related to Secret Service protection.
However, the Manhattan District Attorney's office has responded to the media outlets' requests, stating that they are deferring to the judge to decide how best to manage the court proceeding. The district attorney's office noted that excluding videography and photography may be a "defensible exercise of the Court's discretion" but stopped short of opposing the request outright.
The prosecutors also pointed out that there is no categorical prohibition on cameras during an arraignment under existing New York statutes and case law, citing a similar request made for Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg's 2021 tax fraud arraignment. In response to this request, Judge Merchant had allowed a limited number of still photographs to be taken prior to the commencement of proceedings.
CNN is among the media outlets requesting camera access for Tuesday's arraignment, but it remains to be seen whether the judge will grant their request. The arraignment is set to take place on Tuesday and will likely shed more light on Trump's ongoing legal battles in New York.
The lawyers representing former US President Donald Trump have urged a New York judge to deny media organizations' requests to broadcast his upcoming arraignment on Tuesday. The team, which includes lawyer Todd Blanche, claims that allowing camera access would create a "circus-like atmosphere" at the court proceeding and raise unique security concerns for the Secret Service.
In a letter sent to Acting New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchant, Trump's attorneys argued that the media request is inconsistent with the president's presumption of innocence. They pointed out that any video or photography during the arraignment could exacerbate potential security concerns related to Secret Service protection.
However, the Manhattan District Attorney's office has responded to the media outlets' requests, stating that they are deferring to the judge to decide how best to manage the court proceeding. The district attorney's office noted that excluding videography and photography may be a "defensible exercise of the Court's discretion" but stopped short of opposing the request outright.
The prosecutors also pointed out that there is no categorical prohibition on cameras during an arraignment under existing New York statutes and case law, citing a similar request made for Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg's 2021 tax fraud arraignment. In response to this request, Judge Merchant had allowed a limited number of still photographs to be taken prior to the commencement of proceedings.
CNN is among the media outlets requesting camera access for Tuesday's arraignment, but it remains to be seen whether the judge will grant their request. The arraignment is set to take place on Tuesday and will likely shed more light on Trump's ongoing legal battles in New York.
. I mean, we've seen these kinds of things go down before – all the drama, the cameras, the tension... it's like a reality TV show, but with real lives on the line 
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Only the judge knows, I guess 
, I mean, what even is the point of them? Are they like little antennae or something? And have you ever noticed how when your cat curls up on your lap, their whiskers always seem to be pointing directly at you? Like, they're trying to say "I'm judging you" 
. Anyway, back to Trump... I guess it's weird that he's still getting so much attention even after all these years. You'd think by now we'd be over the whole "America's Got Talent" controversy thing 
it's like, don't get me wrong, i'm sure there are some valid concerns about security, but come on, it's not like trump is going to break out of prison or anything 
. let's just focus on getting this thing over with and see how it plays out, okay? 
. security concerns, yeah right... if you're worried about security, why are trump's lawyers trying to keep it under wraps? 
... but it's also kinda ironic that they're worried about security concerns while Trump is trying to save face on his own legal issues 
. And can we just say, the optics of this whole thing are pretty rich? The guy who made "fake news" a big part of his platform now doesn't want cameras at his arraignment 
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. You need to know what's going on! So, fingers crossed for CNN and the rest of us who just want some juicy drama 
this whole thing feels kinda pointless tbh... like we're all just watching a trainwreck that we can't look away from 
. trump's lawyers saying security concerns but also citing the presumption of innocence... it's like they're trying to control the narrative 
. shouldn't trump be held accountable for his actions? maybe that's what this is all about 
? Its just a bunch of overthinking from his lawyers trying to get some extra attention.
at trumps arraignment?? i mean, i get it about security concerns, but come on, its just a little live tv 
This whole thing with Trump's arraignment feels super dramatic. I mean, can you imagine being a lawyer trying to negotiate security concerns for the Secret Service while also respecting the right to a public arraignment? 
. I mean, who needs a circus-like atmosphere at the courthouse anyway? In my day, we used to watch court proceedings on TV without all the fuss... and you know what? People still got the news in the end 
. The thought of Secret Service agents running around like headless chickens trying to keep cameras out... it's all just so extra 
. what does that say about the system, though? shouldnt the presumption of innocence be enough to ensure a fair trial without trying to control the narrative?
... but maybe thats exactly what we need in this case - some transparency and accountability from trump? or is it just my perspective, thinking like this: when you take away the spotlight, sometimes you can see the real issues more clearly 