Judge Juan Merchan has ruled that no video cameras or live coverage of former President Donald Trump’s arraignment will be allowed in the courtroom on Tuesday.
MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow was apoplectic about the judge’s ruling that reporters will be able to bring cellphones and laptops inside the court “but they can’t use them once they are in there.” Watch:
🚨Breaking: Judge orders no cameras in court during Trump arraignment. pic.twitter.com/k01l45fsiY
— Real Mac Report (@RealMacReport) April 4, 2023
The judge “will allow five pool still photographers to snap for several minutes before the arraignment formally starts, according to a decision issued Monday night,” ABC News reported.
Judge Merchan issued the ruling while conceding, “That this indictment involves a matter of monumental significance cannot possibly be disputed. Never in the history of the United States has a sitting or past President been indicted on criminal charges.” He added that there was a need to balance other interests.
No electronic devices will be allowed in either the main or overflow courtrooms, the judge also ruled.
Rachel Maddow earlier railed against Donald Trump seeking to use the partisan indictment to fuel his political campaign.
Rachel #Maddow says politician indictments are normal unless "a particular politician seeks to make his indictment a catalyst for his supporters and his party rising up and declaring that the legal system is now over, that the legal system should not apply to him." pic.twitter.com/2dRQBykola
— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) March 31, 2023
This is the moment that Trump critics like Maddow have been salivating over after seven years of witch hunts, endless investigations, and even impeachments. On the other hand, many Trump supporters believe that the optics of seeing the former president in court or his mugshot released to the press could fuel another victorious primary and presidential campaign run.
There is even speculation that the timing of the political prosecution from the Soros-family-funded Manhattan District Attorney Michael Bragg was intended to boost Trump to set up an easier path to re-election for President Joe Biden. However, recent polling shows that Donald Trump is receiving a massive boost in campaign financing to the tune of $5 million in 24 hours, as well as spikes in polls vs. undeclared rival Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as well as incumbent president Joe Biden.
2024 National General Election Poll:
Biden 44%
Trump 44%
.
Biden 45% (+7)
DeSantis 38%
.
Trump 45% (+8)
Harris 37%@RedfieldWilton ~ 1,250 LV ~ 3/20https://t.co/2fVkmgUNEN— PollTracker (@PollTrackerUSA) April 3, 2023
According to an illegal leak reported by Yahoo News’ Michael Isikoff (of Russiagate infamy), Donald Trump is being charged with 34 Class E felonies. The leaking of grand jury testimony or charges from a sealed report would itself be Class E felonies in the State of New York and potentially punishable by up to five years in prison.
The exclusive report claims that Trump will not be handcuffed, sent to jail, or get a mugshot. The former president’s attorney has stated that Trump will plead ‘not guilty.’
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OPINION: This article contains commentary which reflects the author's opinion.