Nearly 40 House Democrats on Thursday have called for the trial of President Donald Trump to be televised, arguing it is important for the public to see the proceedings. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI |
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Aug. 4 (UPI) -- More than three dozen House Democrats have asked the administration of federal courts to broadcast the forthcoming trial of former President Donald Trump on unprecedented charges of attempting to steal the 2020 general election.
In the brief letter sent Thursday by Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., to Judge Roslynn Mauskopf, Judicial Conference secretary, the lawmakers argue that due to the significance of the trial it is of the utmost importance that the public be able to witness the proceedings.
"Given the historic nature of the charges brought forth in these cases, it is hard to imagine a more powerful circumstance for televised proceedings. If the public is to fully accept the outcome, it will be vitally important for it to witness, as directly as possible, how the trials are conducted, the strength of the evidence adduced and the credibility of witnesses," the lawmakers said.
Trump pleaded not guilty Thursday to four charges of conspiracy to defraud the Untied States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy against the right to vote, in connection to 2020 general election.
The indictment -- the third to be brought against the former president in the last several months -- accuses Trump of having "launched his criminal scheme" to steal the election through a conspiracy that involves at least six co-conspirators who are accused of having knowingly peddled false claims of voter fraud in an attempt to coerce state and local officials to subvert legitimate election results.
Prosecutors accused Trump of trying to leverage the Justice Department and attempting to enlist his vice president, Mike Pence, as well as sought to exploit the violence and the chaos of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection attempt on Congress to hold on to power.
"It is imperative the [Judicial] Conference ensures timely access to accurate and reliable information surrounding these cases and all of their proceedings, given the extraordinary national importance to our democratic institutions and the need for transparency," the lawmakers said.
The policy of the Judicial Conference permits judges to authorize the broadcasting and photographing of criminal proceedings
The letter Thursday was signed by Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and other members of the Jan. 6 House select committee that was behind last year's televised hearings into the attack on Congress.
