Donald Trump's lawyers have filed a formal objection to the request by media outlets to broadcast his arraignment in court on Tuesday. The attorneys, including new hire Todd Blanche, claim that allowing cameras and videography during the proceedings would create a "circus-like atmosphere" and raise security concerns.
According to their letter to Acting New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchant, Trump is presumed innocent and any video or photography of the arraignment could only heighten these serious concerns. The lawyers argue that the media request is inconsistent with President Trump's presumption of innocence and would compromise the integrity of the proceedings.
However, the Manhattan District Attorney's office has responded to the news outlets' request by saying it will defer to the judge's discretion on how best to manage the courtroom. They acknowledge that there is no categorical prohibition on cameras during an arraignment under existing New York statutes and case law.
In a similar case in 2021, the judge allowed a limited number of still photographs to be taken prior to the commencement of proceedings. The prosecutors also note that there are potential risks associated with broadcasting audio-video coverage, but they have stopped short of opposing the request outright.
The news outlets, including CNN, are seeking camera access for Tuesday's arraignment. The court will now consider the arguments presented by both sides and make a decision on whether to allow media coverage during the proceedings.
According to their letter to Acting New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchant, Trump is presumed innocent and any video or photography of the arraignment could only heighten these serious concerns. The lawyers argue that the media request is inconsistent with President Trump's presumption of innocence and would compromise the integrity of the proceedings.
However, the Manhattan District Attorney's office has responded to the news outlets' request by saying it will defer to the judge's discretion on how best to manage the courtroom. They acknowledge that there is no categorical prohibition on cameras during an arraignment under existing New York statutes and case law.
In a similar case in 2021, the judge allowed a limited number of still photographs to be taken prior to the commencement of proceedings. The prosecutors also note that there are potential risks associated with broadcasting audio-video coverage, but they have stopped short of opposing the request outright.
The news outlets, including CNN, are seeking camera access for Tuesday's arraignment. The court will now consider the arguments presented by both sides and make a decision on whether to allow media coverage during the proceedings.
it's all about respect for the law and for each other, right? i think the lawyers are worried about security, but it's not like they're gonna let someone with a megaphone just go off in there... maybe have some guidelines in place instead of an all-or-nothing approach? and what's wrong with a little bit of media coverage, anyway? it's a public arraignment - we should be able to see it happening live! 
... but at the same time, I think the media's just tryin' to do their job, you know? They want to show the public what's goin' down. And if we're already livin' in a world where politicians can tweet without gettin' fact-checked, why not have some kinda transparency in court, right? 
Still, I can see how it could be a distraction and create a scene... maybe some kind of compromise would work? Like, just allow some basic press coverage and leave the live broadcastin' to TV stations that can handle it? 
The thing is, though, we're living in a time where everything is basically live-streamed or recorded... so I don't know if the "circus-like atmosphere" thing is really that valid anymore 
i dont see how that would be bad...
I mean, if Trump is innocent, why not let the world see that? It's like he's trying to control the narrative here. 
And what about free speech? Shouldn't we have the right to watch and report on a public official being arraigned in court? That's a fundamental right. The prosecutors are saying they'll leave it up to the judge, but this is just a power play by Trump's team. It's like they're trying to silence the press again. 
.
. but seriously, can't we just have an open book situation here? it's not like he's gonna escape or anything if everyone sees him. and honestly, who doesn't want to see the drama unfold live? 
. And come on, a "circus-like atmosphere" in the courtroom? That sounds super paranoid 
. The media outlets have every right to cover the story, and if the court can't handle a little extra security, that's on them, not the press 
. I'm actually kinda curious to see how this plays out - should we be able to catch some live footage of Trump walking into court? 
. I think the media outlets have a right to report on this event, and if there are concerns about cameras, why not allow still photos like in 2021? It just seems like they're trying to control the narrative 
. And btw, if the prosecutors are saying they won't oppose the request outright, that's just code for "we're gonna roll with it and hope we don't get our faces on TV too badly