The policymaking body of the federal courts adopted a new policy in September that allows judges to provide live audio access to non-trial proceedings in civil and bankruptcy cases. It does not apply in criminal cases.
Trump joins media outlets in pushing for his federal election interference case to be televised
- Federal court rules prohibit broadcasting proceedings but news organisations say the unprecedented case warrants making an exception
- Trump’s lawyers wrote in court papers that Americans should be able to observe the ‘politically motivated prosecution’ of the former president
Donald Trump is pushing for his federal election interference trial in Washington to be televised, joining media outlets that say the American public should be able to watch the historic case unfold.
Federal court rules prohibit broadcasting proceedings, but Associated Press and other news organisations say the unprecedented case of a former president standing trial on accusations that he tried to subvert the will of voters warrants making an exception.
The Justice Department is opposing the effort, arguing that the judge overseeing the case does not have the authority to ignore the long-standing nationwide policy against cameras in federal courtrooms. The trial is scheduled to begin on March 4.
Federal court rules prohibit broadcasting proceedings, but Associated Press and other news organisations say the unprecedented case of a former president standing trial on accusations that he tried to subvert the will of voters warrants making an exception.
The Justice Department is opposing the effort, arguing that the judge overseeing the case does not have the authority to ignore the long-standing nationwide policy against cameras in federal courtrooms. The trial is scheduled to begin on March 4.
Lawyers for Trump wrote in court papers filed late on Friday that all Americans should be able to observe what they characterise as a politically motivated prosecution of the Republican front-runner for his party’s presidential nomination in 2024. The defence also suggested Trump will try to use the trial as a platform to repeat his unfounded claims that the 2020 election which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden was stolen from him. Trump has pleaded not guilty.
“President Trump absolutely agrees, and in fact demands, that these proceedings should be fully televised so that the American public can see first-hand that this case, just like others, is nothing more than a dreamt-up unconstitutional charade that should never be allowed to happen again,” Trump’s lawyers wrote.
- The request for a televised trial comes as the Washington case has emerged as the most potent and direct legal threat to Trump’s political fortunes. Trump is accused of illegally scheming to overturn the election results in the run-up to the violent riot at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, by his supporters.
- Trump has repeatedly sought to delay the Washington trial date until after the 2024 election. But US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who was nominated for the bench by Democratic president Barack Obama, appears determined to keep it as scheduled.
On Friday in Florida, US District Judge Aileen Cannon, who is handling the separate classified documents prosecution of Trump, pushed back multiple deadlines in a way that makes it highly unlikely that the case can proceed to trial in May, as had been planned. Trump is facing dozens of felony counts under the Espionage Act. He has pleaded not guilty. . .
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