Donald Trump is pushing for his federal election interference trial in Washington to be televised, aligning with media outlets advocating for the public to witness this historic case.
The Justice Department opposes broadcasting the trial, scheduled to commence in March, citing federal court rules prohibiting televised proceedings.
News organizations, including the Associated Press, argue that no federal case justifies an exception to the rule more than a former president standing trial for attempting to undermine the will of voters in an election.
Trump’s lawyers, characterizing the case as politically motivated, argue for the opportunity for every person in America to study the case firsthand.
According to Trump’s legal team, “President Trump absolutely agrees, and demands, that these proceedings should be fully televised so that the American public can see firsthand that this case, just like others, is nothing more than a dreamt-up unconstitutional charade that should never be allowed to happen again.”
Trump was indicted on felony charges in August for working to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden, leading to the violent riot at the U.S. Capitol by his supporters. Trump is the Republican front-runner for his party’s presidential nomination in 2024.
The request for a televised trial comes as the federal election case in Washington has emerged as the most potent and direct legal threat to Trump’s political fortunes.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has appeared determined to keep the Washington trial date as scheduled.
On Friday, the federal judge in the separate classified documents prosecution of Trump pushed back multiple deadlines in a way that makes it highly unlikely that that case can proceed to trial next May as had been planned. Trump is facing dozens of felony counts under the Espionage Act.
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Richer reported from Boston. Associated Press reporter Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report.
