Judge Juan Merchan ruled on Thursday that photographers are no longer allowed to take pictures inside the courtroom during former President Donald Trump's New York City hush money trial.
Trump is facing 34 counts of falsifying business records related to an alleged hush money payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg alleged the payment was meant to prevent her from speaking publicly about her claims of having an affair with the former president.
The presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee has denied having an affair with Daniels and pleaded not guilty to all criminal charges. He maintains his innocence and has accused Bragg and other prosecutors of targeting him for political purposes, criticizing the trial as a form of election interference.
On Thursday, Merchan, who is overseeing the trial, changed how photographers are allowed to cover the trial, according to a pool report.
A court officer told pool photographers in the hallway outside the courtroom that Judge Merchan will no longer allow photography inside the courtroom for the rest of the trial at about 8:43 a.m. on Thursday.
The decision comes after a photographer allegedly violated a court order by taking a photograph of the former president from the aisle while walking into the well, according to the pool report. The order permits photographers to take photos only from the well itself.
The term "well" describes the area not accessible to the public where court proceedings take place.
Photographers are still allowed to take pictures in the hallway outside of the courtroom.
Court spokesperson Al Baker told Newsweek on Thursday, "A still photojournalist who was being led with colleagues into courtroom 1530 on Tuesday morning to take the daily photograph broke an established rule in photographing from outside the well. Judge Merchan was consulted and has determined that for now no photography from the courtroom will be permitted."
News that photographs would no longer be allowed in the courtroom quickly drew responses on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
"The public's view of the Trump trial is becoming even more limited," wrote journalist and author Brian Stelter.
Lawyer Bradley P. Moss wrote: "There is always one p**** who ruins it for everyone."
In the first few weeks of the trial, photographers have published many photographs of Trump inside the courtroom as proceedings continued. The trial is expected to last for several more weeks, as the prosecution and defense continue to call witnesses to the stand.
Court resumed on Thursday morning after taking a break on Wednesday. Daniels, who began her testimony on Tuesday, is expected to retake the stand to continue answering questions from lawyers.
While photography and reporting have been permitted inside the courtroom throughout the trial, filming hasn't been allowed.
Update 5/99/2024 2:29 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Andrew Stanton is a Newsweek weekend reporter based in Maine. His role is reporting on U.S. politics and social issues. ... Read more
