Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee who is overseeing the case related to former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the presidential election results revealed that the case is going to be televised as there will be cameras in the courtroom. This is the first time that a criminal proceeding that includes Trump is going to be televised.
On Tuesday McAfee gave four local television stations permission to bring cameras and recording equipment into the courtroom. The arraignment of Trump and his 18 co-defendants has not yet been scheduled but Fani Willis, the Fulton County District Attorney has pushed for it to be held the week after Labor Day. McAfee has allowed cameras in his courtroom until September 8, so if the arraignment is delayed beyond that date then there is a chance that it will not be televised.
The judge has also not provided any information on whether or not cameras would be allowed in the courtroom at other times during the proceedings relating to this case. The 19 defendants were indicted by a Fulton County grand jury last week on charges relating to their attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Trump repeatedly claimed that he did not commit any wrongdoings.
Willis has allowed defendants to turn themselves in until Friday. After surrendering the defendants are going to be booked at the Fulton County Jail. Their arraignment is a separate process. Trump is going to be surrendering on Thursday.
In all previous indictments and arraignments, cameras were not allowed in the courtroom, and federal courts do not allow for any recordings of the proceedings being captured.
