Trump and Media Outlets Rally for Televised Coverage of His Federal Election Interference Case

Donald Trump and media outlets are both advocating for the televised broadcasting of his federal election interference trial in Washington in order for the American public to witness the proceedings firsthand, according to a filing made by Trump’s lawyers on Friday.

In the filing, Trump’s lawyers assert that President Trump insists on and supports the full televising of the proceedings to demonstrate that the case is an unconstitutional farce. They also criticize the Justice Department’s opposition to broadcasting the trial, deeming it as an effort to continue the trial in secrecy.

“For the first time in American history, an incumbent administration has charged its main, leading electoral opponent with a criminal offense. Aware that its charges are meritless, the prosecution has sought to proceed in secret, forcing the nation and the world to rely on biased, secondhand accounts coming from the Biden Administration and its media allies.
“As a result, the citizens of our great country are unable to review for themselves what the facts of this case show, and how unfairly President Trump is being treated at the hands of his political opponent. As President Trump has made clear from the outset, the prosecution has repeatedly denied him his fundamental constitutional rights, including the right to prepare for trial and to present a fulsome defense.
“The prosecution wishes to continue this travesty in darkness. 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. The Court should grant the Motions without delay.”

Several news organizations, including the Associated Press, contend that there has never been a federal case that warrants an exception to the rule prohibiting televised proceedings more than a former president standing trial on allegations that he attempted to subvert the will of voters in an election.

Trump, who has characterized the case against him as politically motivated, was indicted on felony charges in August for challenging the 2020 election. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has expressed her determination to keep the Washington trial date as scheduled in early March.

In a separate case involving classified documents prosecution of Trump, the federal judge has pushed back multiple deadlines, making it highly unlikely for the case to proceed to trial as planned in May.

Material the The Associated Press was used in this report.