When Donald Trump faces his charges of attempted election interference in Georgia, the whole world will be able to watch live. Judge Scott McAfee decided on Thursday (local time) that the trial against the former US President would be streamed live on the Internet. The use of recording devices would “not disturb the administration of justice”.
McAfee, who is presiding over the mammoth trial of Trump and 18 co-defendants in Fulton County Superior Court, said he will allow a YouTube stream of all hearings and hearings related to the trial. The court will do the broadcasting itself. “We streamed all of our important proceedings live on a YouTube channel provided by Fulton County, and our plan was to do the same in this case,” the judge said. Photo and video recordings of the procedure by the press pool should also be permitted.
In a separate order Thursday, McAfee also allowed cell phones and laptops to be used in the courtroom. “It is hereby authorized that all parties and viewers may use recording devices […] or non-recording devices throughout the duration of this case,” the paper reads. However, the judge clarified that phones or laptops could only be used to communicate in the courtroom. The recording of the hearing itself is therefore not permitted and is reserved for television broadcasting and live streaming.
In Georgia, cameras are allowed in the courtroom as long as they do not interfere with the proceedings. Cameras have not yet been allowed in the three other criminal cases Trump has been dealing with – in Washington also for his activities after the 2020 election, in Miami for his handling of secret government documents and in New York in connection with hush money payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels .
Fani Willis, prosecutor from Georgia’s capital Atlanta, accuses Trump in 13 counts of conspiring with allies to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election he lost in the southern state. Among other things, he and his alleged accomplices are said to have urged public officials to violate their oath of office. The 77-year-old denies the allegations and has pleaded not guilty. A date for his trial has not yet been set.
Sources: CBS News, ABC News, “Huffington Post”
