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Dear John,
When Donald Trump’s trial in Georgia for his most recent indictment begins, we will most likely get to see it, because cameras are allowed in Georgia courtrooms. This transparency is important, and so is the Georgia case.
But the most important criminal trial in U.S. history -- the federal case over Trump’s attempted coup on January 6, 2021, that ended America’s never-before broken legacy of the peaceful transition of power -- will take place in a federal courtroom, where television cameras are not allowed.
It will take an exception to make this trial directly available to the American public, and that’s exactly what needs to happen. It’s an exception that is strongly warranted, because, as The New York Times put it:
The cases of United States of America v. Donald J. Trump have unprecedented significance for the future of democracy. Only the U.S. Judicial Conference can approve cameras in the courtroom. Join House Democrats and demand Chief Justice John Roberts, as head of the Conference, allow Trump’s trial to be televised in full now.
Every single American is a victim of the attempted coup, and all of us should have a chance to see the trial. Regardless of political party, we deserve to see the judicial process and the facts laid out for conviction with our own eyes.
Certain media outlets are sure to severely misrepresent the actual content of the trial. This is why we need to see the trial firsthand on national television.
Let the witnesses speak under oath and be seen and heard across the nation. Let the defense and the prosecution make their best arguments before the judge and jury.
Whatever the outcome of the charges against Trump, in the end, we all need to be able to assess the validity and fairness of the process. Only full access to the courtroom proceedings will enable the American people to see and hear the full testimony and arguments.
Public transparency is our best defense against corruption and disinformation. Sign the petition to demand the most consequential trial in U.S. history be televised now.
Thank you for your efforts to ensure the public is accurately informed.
It’s no exaggeration to say the future of democracy is at stake.
Robert Reich
Inequality Media Civic Action
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