A group of leading US media organizations have requested that the New York judge presiding over Donald Trump’s arraignment unseal the indictment charge issued by the grand jury and allow for the broadcast of his appearance in court on Tuesday.
The request was made by news outlets including CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. In a letter to Judge Juan Merchan on Friday, they emphasized that “the right of access is at its highest level when it comes to the first-ever indictment of a former US president.”
“And no higher values are served by keeping the indictment under seal. Aside from the fact that a former US president is not a flight risk, maintaining the indictment under seal, despite the public disclosure of its existence, only fuels speculation as to its contents. Full disclosure of the indictment will enhance both the general public’s and the parties’ right to an accurate public understanding of the charges,” the request said.
The media outlets emphasized the importance of public access to information, particularly in regards to the unprecedented indictment of a former US president. While the judge is not obligated to make the indictment charge public, the gravity of the situation warrants the unsealing of the charge without delay.
The media organizations have requested a limited number of photographers, videographers, and radio journalists to be present at the arraignment in order to ensure that the court’s operations are not disrupted.
Trump is expected to surrender at the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Tuesday afternoon before being arraigned in a 15th floor courtroom where Justice Juan Merchan, a state Supreme Court judge, will hear the case. Although the exact charges have not been unsealed, CNN reports that Trump will likely be facing 30 counts related to financial fraud.
