The federal judge who is to preside over Donald Trump’s trial for conspiring to overturn the 2020 US election asked the former president on Friday to respond to media requests that it be televised.
Judge Tanya Chutkan gave Trump’s attorneys until November 10 to reply to the request by a number of media outlets asking for live broadcasts of what they called a “historic and unprecedented prosecution.”
Federal criminal trials are generally not televised in the United States and it is not clear that Chutkan will allow it — or has the authority to do so — even if Trump’s defense team and special counsel prosecutors agree.
Cameras have not been allowed so far in the downtown Washington courtroom for pre-trial hearings in the case.
NBCUniversal Media, in its application to the court, said if live coverage is not allowed than at the very least a recording should be made of the proceedings to be released later.
“The American public has an extraordinary interest in seeing and hearing this trial of former President Trump,” NBCUniversal said. “If ever a trial were to be televised, this one should be, for the benefit of the American people.”
John Lauro, an attorney for Trump, has said previously he would welcome cameras in the courtroom “so that Americans can see what’s happening in our criminal justice system.”
Trump was indicted for seeking to upend the results of the 2020 election won by Democrat Joe Biden in a concerted effort that led to the violent January 6, 2021 attack by his supporters on the US Capitol.
The twice-impeached former president is also accused of seeking to disenfranchise American voters with his false claims that he won the November 2020 election.
Chutkan has set March 4, 2024 for the start of the trial, which could interfere with Trump’s campaign to win the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
Trump and his sons Eric and Don Jr are currently facing a civil fraud trial in New York, accused of inflating the value of their real estate assets to receive more favorable bank loans and insurance terms.
Trump also faces federal charges for alleged mishandling of classified documents after he left the White House and has been charged with racketeering in Georgia for trying to overturn the 2020 election results in the southern state.
