New York courts will publish daily transcripts of former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial, officials have announced.
New York typically does not allow audio or visual coverage in court rooms, meaning the public is unable to watch the first criminal trial of a former president in U.S. history live.
But certified transcripts of each day’s proceedings will be posted to the New York State Unified Court System’s media website by the end of the following business day, according to a news release Monday. Transcripts can be expensive and sometimes unavailable, depending on the location or particular court system.
“This historic case, which has generated unparalleled public interest, calls for this historic step by the court system,” First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Norman St. George said in the news release. “This will serve to enhance public understanding of the trial with minimum disruption to the courtroom proceedings.”
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What is Donald Trump on trial for in New York?
Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges that he falsified business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels that was designed to unlawfully interfere in the 2016 presidential election.
Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen issued the payment and violated federal campaign finance laws, according to prosecutors. But they also argue Trump authorized the payment to help his presidential campaign and falsified records to cover up the checks he sent to reimburse Cohen for the hush money.
The trial kicked off April 15 with jury selection, which concluded Friday. Both legal teams gave their opening arguments Monday, and the prosecution called its first witness: David Pecker, former head of the tabloid the National Enquirer’s parent company.
