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The Invisible Arraignment and The Need for Cannon to Recuse Herself

In breaking news Monday night, the chief judge for the Southern District of Florida barred journalists from bringing phones or other electronic equipment into the Trump arraignment courthouse.

Sarah Jones & Jason Easley's avatar
Sarah Jones & Jason Easley
Jun 13, 2023
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In a bit of breaking news last night, there will be no video, no audio, and no way for journalists covering the Trump arraignment to communicate their observations on Tuesday, as ordered by a judge late Monday evening.

At the last minute, the chief judge for the Southern District of Florida, Cecilia María Altonaga, issued an order prohibiting journalists from bringing phones or any electronic equipment into the Trump arraignment courthouse. Altonaga was appointed by George W. Bush.

This is considered by some to be standard practice (this varies by location), but given the historical nature of Tuesday’s proceedings, it came as an unwelcome surprise to journalists.

“This historic American moment will largely (if not fully) be invisible to America,” Scott MacFarlane commented.

It also shuts out the people from a case in which there is profound public interest and in which they are in som…

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