The federal judge assigned to preside over Donald Trump’s trial on allegations of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election has made a request to the former president regarding the potential televised coverage of the trial. Judge Tanya Chutkan, on Friday, asked Trump’s legal team to respond to media outlets’ requests for live broadcasts of what they are calling a “historic and unprecedented prosecution.” It is worth noting that federal criminal trials are typically not televised, and it remains uncertain whether Judge Chutkan will permit such coverage, or if she even possesses the authority to do so, even if both Trump’s defense team and special counsel prosecutors concur.
According to The Hill, up to this point, cameras have not been permitted in the downtown Washington courtroom during pre-trial hearings for this case. NBCUniversal Media, in its application to the court, has suggested that if live coverage is not approved, at the very least, a recording of the proceedings should be created for later release. They argue that there is an exceptional interest among the American public to witness this trial of the former President, and they believe that if any trial were to be televised, this one should be, for the benefit of the American people.
John Lauro, an attorney representing Trump, has previously expressed his willingness to have cameras present in the courtroom to provide the American public with insight into the workings of the criminal justice system.
Judge Chutkan has scheduled March 4, 2024, as the trial’s commencement date, which could potentially clash with Trump’s campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Meanwhile, Trump and his sons, Eric and Don Jr., are currently facing a civil fraud trial in New York, where they are accused of inflating the value of their real estate assets to secure more favorable bank loans and insurance terms. Additionally, Trump faces federal charges for alleged mishandling of classified documents after leaving the White House and has been charged with racketeering in Georgia for purportedly attempting to overturn the 2020 election results in the southern state.