US President Donald Trump's lawyers have formally objected to a request by media outlets to broadcast his upcoming arraignment in court. The lawyers believe that allowing live television coverage would create a circus-like atmosphere, raise unique security concerns, and undermine the defendant's right to a fair trial.
In a letter to New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchant, the Trump team argued that any video or photography of the proceedings would only heighten these serious concerns. They pointed out that the case presents extraordinary security risks, including Secret Service-related concerns, which could be exacerbated by live broadcasting.
The lawyers' objections were echoed by the Manhattan District Attorney's office, which also responded to media requests for camera access. While they stopped short of opposing the request outright, their lawyer noted that a similar request had been made in 2021 for Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg's arraignment, and the judge had allowed a limited number of still photographs to be taken.
However, the prosecutors also suggested that excluding or restricting videography, photography, and radio coverage of the arraignment could be a defensible exercise of the court's discretion. They pointed out that there is no categorical prohibition on cameras during an arraignment under existing New York statutes and case law.
The issue now lies with Judge Merchant, who will decide how to manage Trump's courtroom proceedings. The decision has significant implications for the defendant's right to a fair trial and the security of all parties involved.
As CNN prepares to cover the live broadcast of the arraignment, it remains to be seen whether the court will grant media access. The potential exclusion of cameras would limit the ability of outlets like CNN to provide real-time coverage of the proceedings, potentially affecting their journalistic integrity and the public's right to information.
In a letter to New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchant, the Trump team argued that any video or photography of the proceedings would only heighten these serious concerns. They pointed out that the case presents extraordinary security risks, including Secret Service-related concerns, which could be exacerbated by live broadcasting.
The lawyers' objections were echoed by the Manhattan District Attorney's office, which also responded to media requests for camera access. While they stopped short of opposing the request outright, their lawyer noted that a similar request had been made in 2021 for Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg's arraignment, and the judge had allowed a limited number of still photographs to be taken.
However, the prosecutors also suggested that excluding or restricting videography, photography, and radio coverage of the arraignment could be a defensible exercise of the court's discretion. They pointed out that there is no categorical prohibition on cameras during an arraignment under existing New York statutes and case law.
The issue now lies with Judge Merchant, who will decide how to manage Trump's courtroom proceedings. The decision has significant implications for the defendant's right to a fair trial and the security of all parties involved.
As CNN prepares to cover the live broadcast of the arraignment, it remains to be seen whether the court will grant media access. The potential exclusion of cameras would limit the ability of outlets like CNN to provide real-time coverage of the proceedings, potentially affecting their journalistic integrity and the public's right to information.
! Trump's team is being super protective of him, but it's kinda reasonable? I mean, who wants a live TV circus in the courtroom, especially with all those security concerns 
? But at the same time, shouldn't we have the right to know what's going on in our courts? It's like they're trying to create this whole "fair trial" vs "circus" vibe... I feel like it's gonna be a tough call for Judge Merchant 
. If cameras are out, it could affect CNN's coverage and that's not ideal 
. Maybe they can just get some still pics or something? 
security concerns are valid though i guess if they don't want cameras then it should be up to the judge whats the big deal tho? its a courtroom not a sporting event 
I'm thinking the courts should weigh both sides on this - Trump's team is worried about security risks but we also have a right to know what's going down in court. Did you know that 70% of Americans want to see live coverage of trials? 
Still, we gotta consider the potential chaos it could cause. What if someone gets distracted by a bird flying outside? 
I think the courts have to weigh security concerns against our right to know what's going on in the justice system... live streaming could be a big distraction 
this is getting outta hand... can't even get a live arraignment without turning it into some kinda freak show 
gotta give credit to the prosecutors tho, at least they're trying to balance security w/ transparency 
the cameras are definitely a risk, but I think we gotta keep the public in the loop about this one 
Trump's team is just being paranoid, it's not like he's gonna be tried by a kangaroo court 
security concerns sound legit tho, doesn't want anyone getting hurt or compromised 
maybe they just wanna ensure everything runs smoothly? we'll see how judge merchant decides 
Maybe they should have thought about this before they decided to put him on live TV... 