According to The Hill, attorneys representing former President Donald Trump have supported a plea from media organizations seeking permission to televise his federal election fraud trial scheduled for next year. The legal team argued that allowing cameras in the courtroom would serve as a tool to showcase the perceived unfair treatment Trump is experiencing within the justice system, allowing the American public to witness the proceedings firsthand.
In a filing on Friday, the attorneys asserted, “President Trump calls for sunlight. 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.”
Trump has consistently denied and condemned the criminal charges, which accuse him of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election. The trial is scheduled to commence in March. Trump has aligned himself with a coalition of media outlets that requested the presiding judge to permit cameras in the courtroom back in early October.
Special counsel Jack Smith, however, opposed the push to broadcast the trial last week, contending that federal and local regulations prohibit televising trials of this nature.
The election fraud trial in Washington is the most prominent of the five trials facing Trump in the coming months, with four of them being criminal cases. A New York criminal case involving falsified documents is set to go to trial in late March, and a Florida-based federal case alleging mishandling of classified documents is scheduled for May.
While the trial date for a Georgia election fraud case has not been determined, it is anticipated to commence in January at the earliest. Additionally, a separate New York civil trial concerning business fraud charges is currently underway.
In the Washington election fraud case, Trump has contested a court-imposed partial gag order that restricts what he can publicly communicate about the case and witnesses. His legal team objected to the order in a filing on Wednesday, arguing that the Department of Justice provided no evidence of any threats or harassment directed at prosecutors, witnesses, or court staff during the three months since Trump’s indictment.
