Former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial will not be broadcast on Tuesday, despite requests from news outlets to air live footage of the historic moment.
Acting New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan rejected a request from several media outlets — including The New York Times, CNN, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post — on Monday, the night before Trump appears in Manhattan court. Photographers in the pool will be able to take photos before the judging begins.
Trump was indicted last week on charges related to a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the final days of his 2016 presidential bid. It was a historic moment: No former president has ever been indicted on the charges criminal charges, the extent of which will be publicly revealed on Tuesday.
Merchan noted Monday that while the event was “undoubtedly important, the interests of news organizations must be weighed against competing interests.” Trump’s lawyers argued that allowing cameras in the courtroom would create a “circus-like atmosphere.”
“It cannot be disputed that this allegation relates to a matter of monumental importance. Never in US history has a sitting or former president been indicted on criminal charges. Trump’s impeachment has generated unprecedented public interest and media attention,” Merchan wrote. “The public rightly wants the most accurate and up-to-date information available. To suggest otherwise would be dishonest.”
Trump is expected to make comments after Tuesday night’s impeachment. He faces numerous other investigations, including those into classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago estate after he left the White House and his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 Georgia election.
The former president has denied any wrongdoing, attacking the investigation as a political witch hunt.
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