Special counsel Jack Smith opposes televising the federal election subversion trial of former President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, according to a filing late Friday.

Prosecutors wrote that federal courts are expressly prohibited from allowing proceedings in a courtroom from being broadcast or even photographed and that although the public was allowed to access some proceedings through teleconferences during the Covid-19 pandemic, the exception ended in September for criminal trials.

In a long-shot attempt, a group of media organizations, including CNN, asked the federal judge overseeing the case, Tanya Chutkan, for permission to broadcast the trial given its historic nature. In a separate petition to the judge, NBCUniversal Media argued that the long-standing rule against cameras in federal criminal trials, which dates to the 1940s, is outdated and would violate the First Amendment if strictly enforced in the Trump case.

  • @Nastybutler
    link
    121 year ago

    The advantage of having the trial televised is that tRump and his hack lawyers can’t stand outside the courtroom at the end of each day and spew lies about what went on, as we can immediately call bullshit when we see it for ourselves.

    You know Smith and his team won’t say anything so tRump’s lies will seem as valid to some as what reporters say actually happened.

    • probablyaCat
      link
      fedilink
      71 year ago

      No it won’t. They would lie while watching a video showing it is a lie. And later they would lie that any of it ever took place.

      And his true believers would accept it all.

      • Flying Squid
        link
        21 year ago

        Exactly. For his worshippers, Trump shapes reality.

    • RubberStuntBaby
      link
      fedilink
      3
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      tRump and his hack lawyers can’t stand outside the courtroom at the end of each day and spew lies about what went on

      They can and they will. Anyone paying attention has already picked a side. His cult will believe him over any facts or proof so they have nothing to lose by lying. In fact, believing Trump over all evidence to the contrary is like their proof of loyalty badge.

      For anyone who’s not paying attention, lying about it will muddy the waters because they probably won’t be watching.