In the week since the second federal indictment of former President Trump a conversation has begun about whether his upcoming trials should be televised.
Federal courts have long had a general prohibition against cameras, but some argue the stakes are so high in the Trump matters an exception should be made. It is hard to argue against the idea.
Decorum is the main argument against televised court proceedings, but it is a weak argument in this case where there is much more to gain by opening the trial to anyone who wants to see it.
During the Trump era there has been an on-going battle involving the truth, conspiracy theories, and out-right lies. Keeping the court room closed to television coverage only provides fertile ground for conspiracy theories and lies to take root in the public conversation. Complete transparency is the only way to ensure all Americans are basing their thoughts and opinions on the same set of facts.
Televised court proceedings and televised coverage of other government functions have existed for years with no known un-wanted side effects. This is an important opportunity to show the judicial process at work.
