Donald Trump: Manhattan judge says no video cameras in court

New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan ruled late Monday evening that he will not allow media requests for coverage of the appearance of Donald Trump in his court. Trump does not want cameras in the courtroom and the judge ruled in his favour.

Despite the denial of TV cameras in the room, Judge Merchan said he will allow five photographers to take still photos minutes before proceeding. The media is also allowed to film the arrival of the ex-POTUS in the hallway as he arrives and departs the court.

“That this indictment involves a matter of monumental significance cannot possibly be disputed,” Judge Merchan said. “Never in the history of the United States has a sitting or past President been indicted on criminal charges,” he noted. 

However, Trump’s legal team’s reason for asking that the media requests be turned down boils to the atmosphere it will create and Trump’s claim of innocence. It said, “because it[media] will create a circus-like atmosphere at the arraignment, raise unique security concerns, and is inconsistent with President Trump’s presumption of innocence”.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump could face up to 30 charges related to the indictment for the payment of $130,000 to pornstar Stormy Daniels in 2016.

“If Trump signed six checks, those are six events that can each trigger multiple crimes. For example, each could be charged as a misdemeanour falsification of business records as well as multiple felony versions of the same offence, with multiple other crimes serving as the predicates to bump that charge up to a felony,” Josh Stanton, an attorney with Perry Guha said as quoted by The Hill.

The former President has denied the accusations while labelling them as a “witch hunt”. He is set to appear in court today, Tuesday, April 4, 2023, and the case is set to be heard at 2.15 pm US time.