Trump’s Georgia election interference trial will be televised and live streamed, judge decides

Fulton County judge will allow YouTube stream and pool coverage for television, photography and radio

Graeme Massie

Los Angeles

Thursday 31 August 2023 20:35 EDT

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Donald Trump’s trial for allegedly attempting to subvert the presidential election in Georgia will be televised and live-streamed, a judge has decided.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee announced on Thursday that he would allow all hearings and trials in the case to appear on a YouTube stream. The court will operate the stream.

The judge will also allow pool coverage for television, photography and radio, he announced.

The grand jury handed up 13 felony charges against Mr Trump for his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in the state.

These charges include RICO, conspiracy to commit forgery, filing false documents, Solicitation of Violation of Oath by Public Officer and more.

In addition, 18 Trump associates have also been indicted, including former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Mr Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges on 31 August and has asked a judge to sever his case from his co-defendants.

Judge Scott McAfee said he would allow live-streaming as well as still photographers and radio (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

He surrendered at Fulton County Jail on Thursday 24 August, where he was booked and had his mug shot taken.

No trial date has yet been set but the Georgia case will be the first and probably only of Mr Trump’s four trials that will be televised.

Two of his cases are in the federal jurisdiction, which does not allow for any televised trials or even permits reporters to take electronic devices into the courtroom.

But Georgia allows cameras in the courtroom as long as they are not disruptive.

The decision came as Mr Trump moved to sever his Georgia case from the defendants seeking a speedy trial, arguing that it would violate his right to a fair process.

“President Trump moves the Court to sever his case from those of his co-defendants who have demanded a speedy trial ... and who have a scheduled trial date of October 23, 2023,” lawyer Steven Sadow wrote in a filing on Thursday.

The filing states that the timeline wouldn’t allow for the counsel to “have sufficient time to prepare President Trump’s case”.

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