Donald Trump files legal motion, wants his trial televised
Former president Donald Trump still maintains a commanding lead above and beyond all of the other Republican candidates seeking their party’s 2024 presidential nomination; and, he’s also ahead in the polls slightly above President Joe Biden, who is expected to be the Democratic Party’s nomination for a second term. Theorists believe that Trump feels as if he can do no wrong and with his background in Reality TV, Trump wants at least one of his four federal trials to be televised.
On Friday, Trump’s legal team filed a motion, “for live television coverage of his federal trial on charges he conspired to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election,” also saying that Trump was being denied his constitutional rights by not being allowed to have his trial televised.
In the late Friday filing, Trump argued that prosecutors want the trial held “in darkness” as part of what he claims is a politically motivated effort by President Joe Biden’s administration to undermine his bid for re-election next year. ~ Reuters
From his four pending and upcoming criminal felony trials Trump has chosen his March trial where he’s looking at charges of “attempting to defraud the federal government and obstructing Congress by knowingly spreading false claims of election fraud.” A plethora of media outlets have requested TV coverage of that trial; and Trump is using those requests to help rationalize requests made by the media to the judge overseeing that trial, Judge Tanya Chutkan, to allow that live TV coverage.
“Every person in America, and beyond, should have the opportunity to study this case firsthand and watch as, if there is a trial, President Trump exonerates himself of these baseless and politically motivated charges,” said the filing.
According to The New York Times, the motion also accuses special counsel Jack Smith of attempting to hold this particular trial “in secret,” and serves as an avenue for the defense to complain that Trump “has been treated ‘unfairly’ by the Biden administration even though the election case — and another federal case in which Mr. Trump stands accused of mishandling classified documents — have been overseen by Mr. Smith, an independent prosecutor.”
Trump’s followers also claim that liberals don’t want the trial televised because they’re afraid it will portray him in too positive of a light.
Turns out though, House Democrats are in favor of having Trump’s trial televised and have forwarded a signed letter to the Judicial Conference asking the body to allow Trump’s federal criminal trials to be broadcast on television.
“Given the historic nature of the charges brought forth in these cases, it is hard to imagine a more powerful circumstance for televised proceedings,” the letter stated. “If the public is to fully accept the outcome, it will be vitally important for it to witness, as directly as possible, how the trials are conducted, the strength of the evidence adduced and the credibility of witnesses.” ~ USA Today
After those media requests for live coverage began rolling, special counsel Smith went on record as saying that live coverage couldn’t proceed – “citing a decades-old federal court rule barring broadcasts of criminal proceedings.” Earlier in November, Smith also said that TV coverage also could intimidate witnesses and jurors.
The Justice Department has said that knowledge that cameras are in the courtroom can affect lawyers and witnesses in “subtle ways” and lead to grandstanding. Noting the “ever-increasing acrimony in public discourse,” prosecutors said witnesses who testify on camera may also be harassed or threatened.
“When a witness’s image is captured on video, it is not just a fleeting image, but it exists indefinitely,” the government said. “Were there an appeal and retrial, witnesses who were subjected to scrutiny and harassment on social media may be unwilling to testify again.” ~ The Associated Press
There are valid arguments to be made from both camps. The historic significance of being able to watch the trial in real time and for future generations to see – could very well be tarnished by the grandstanding. As evidenced by having seen him on the stand in his recent New York civil fraud trial, we already know that the former president cannot or will not answer direct questions, and instead takes the opportunity to complain about how unfairly he’s being treated or just generally go off on tangents and tirades.
I for one though, would watch the live coverage of Trump’s foray back into Reality TV, purely for the historical / educational perspective.
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(Donald Trump cover photo, Image credit: YouTube snip / CBS News)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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