Journalists covering former President Donald Trump’s upcoming arraignment in Miami are banned from bringing cellphones and other electronic equipment into the courtroom, the chief district judge of the Florida federal court ruled on June 12, shortly after a separate judge ruled that the case will not be televised.
The ban covers all news reporters and other members of the media who will be present inside the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. United States Courthouse in Miami on June 13, Judge Cecilia Altonaga said in her ruling (pdf) on Monday.
Trump is expected to appear at the courthouse in downtown Miami at around 3 p.m. to face charges in the federal government’s classified document case.
According to Altonaga, the U.S. Marshals Service will “continue to inspect all cellular phones and other electronic equipment as they are brought into the federal courthouse facilities as directed to protect the Bench, Bar, and public from harm.”
Anyone violating the ban risks a 30-day prison sentence, a $5,000 fine, and punishment for contempt of court, the judge concluded.
Along with cellphones being banned from Trump’s arraignment on Tuesday, cameras will also be prohibited from the courtroom after a separate judge ruled on that matter Monday.
In a four-page ruling, U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman denied a request by a group of local and national news media organizations known collectively as the “Press Coalition” to allow for a “limited number of photographs and video recordings in the courtroom” or outside the corridor on the day of Trump’s arraignment.
Public Interest ‘Unprecedented’
The news organizations—which include ABC News, The Associated Press, Bloomberg, CBS News, NBC News, Reuters, The New York Times, and others—also asked that the recordings of the arraignment taken inside the courtroom be released to the public “immediately” along with recordings of future proceedings in the case.
“As the Court is aware, this is the first federal indictment ever brought against a former President of the United States. The American public’s interest in this case is beyond exaggeration,” the group wrote in their motion (pdf).
“The unprecedented and historic nature of these proceedings warrants same-day access to these recordings,” they wrote. “The need for immediate audio recordings is further heightened by the tense political atmospherics of this case.”
The group went on to claim that a lack of camera presence in the courtroom could lead to “wild speculation and conjecture” among the general public, noting that the former president has alleged that the entire case against him is a political witch hunt.
“Because Mr. Trump has alleged that this entire case is an illegitimate witch hunt, the actions of the judiciary, prosecution, and defense will receive exceptional scrutiny, and any informational vacuum will be filled with wild speculation and conjecture. Complete transparency—in the form of swift availability of audio recordings—will both ensure the integrity and legitimacy of the case and keep Americans informed about this critically important matter,” the group wrote.
Trump Indictment Charges
However, Goodman ultimately rejected the request, noting that “allowing photographs would undermine the massive security arrangements put in place.”
Additionally, the judge noted that the immediate release of the recordings was also not warranted as Trump’s arraignment will be very much a public affair, with a limited amount of “ordinary citizens” permitted to attend.
Goodman added that because there will not be enough in-court seats to accommodate everyone who would like to be present, there will be a live video feed broadcast in a “spillover room” where reporters can go to provide updates on the court proceedings.
“Based on these reasons, the Undersigned denies, but without prejudice, the motion,” the judge concluded.
The Department of Justice indicted Trump last week on 37 counts of federal charges in connection with claims that he allegedly mishandled classified documents.
The indictment alleges that the former president willfully retained national defense information, made false statements, and conspired to obstruct justice.
He faces a maximum of 400 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
Trump, who is currently on the campaign trail after announcing a run for the 2024 presidential election, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and is expected to plead not guilty in court on Tuesday.
The former president has also vowed not to drop out of the 2024 competition, regardless of whether or not he is found guilty, and polls show that he is still the leading Republican candidate.
From The Epoch Times