Attorneys representing former President Donald Trump at his arraignment on Tuesday argued against allowing cameras in the courtroom because it would “create a circus-like atmosphere.”
“We submit that the media request should be denied because it will create a circus-like atmosphere at the arraignment, raise unique security concerns, and is inconsistent with President Trump’s presumption of innocence,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in the letter to Judge Juan Merchan, according to CNBC.
A Manhattan grand jury investigating a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016 voted to indict Donald Trump last Thursday making him the first former president in U.S. history to face criminal charges.
Several media outlets asked Judge Merchan for permission to allow audio and visual access in the courtroom to broadcast Trump’s appearance for his arraignment.
“The gravity of this proceeding – the unprecedented and historic arraignment of a former U.S. President – and, consequently, the need for the broadest possible public access, cannot be overstated,” the outlets said in their letter, according to NBC News.
In an order late Monday night, Merchan blocked the use of digital devices in the courtroom during the arraignment but will allow cameras to take photographs before the proceedings begin, NBC News reports.
[Image by Andrew Harnik/AP]
