The United States Senate is subjecting the press to unprecedented restrictions as Donald Trump’s impeachment trial is scheduled to begin next Tuesday. There will be no cameras allowed and no audio recorders, which will make it impossible for the press to cover the event. Expectedly, this has caused significant negative reactions among the public, especially press photographers and journalists.
Interestingly enough, I was just listening to the news while I was reading about this story, and these restrictions were mentioned. Reportedly, there will be no “phones or other electronic devices” allowed at the articles of impeachment delivery. No phones, no cameras, no audio recorders – just one video camera covering the historic event.
Furthermore, credentialed reporters will be forced to stay inside a single press pen, according to Business Insider. It will be set up on the second floor of the Senate, and reporters will need to pass through additional security checks.
According to Roll Call, this decision is a part of a “safety strategy” by Capitol Police Chief Steven A. Sund and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Michael C. Stenger. However, the Standing Committee of Correspondents wonders how banning the press from the articles of impeachment delivery will help with safety. They claim that the House and the Senate rejected every correspondents’ suggestion “without an explanation of how the restrictions contribute to safety rather than simply limit coverage of the trial.”
The full statement from the Standing Committee of Correspondents on the unprecedented press restrictions pic.twitter.com/9dCr88eiCP
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) January 14, 2020
Naturally, reporters and press photographers strongly disagree with the decision, expressing their concerns that this move breaches the freedom of the press.
There is no good reason that credentialed press should be blocked from thoroughly covering the impeachment trial & documenting it for the public.
We must honor the freedom of the press. To not allow photography of the transfer – along w/ many other limitations – is unacceptable. https://t.co/VuWq1b7PDb
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 15, 2020
Carl Hulse of the New York Times tweeted: “Pretty much an outrage. Either Senate Republican leadership has no interest in recording history or perhaps they just want to play down the coming events altogether.”
Pretty much an outrage. Either Senate Republican leadership has no interest in recording history or perhaps they just want to play down the coming events altogether. https://t.co/L6ys9828no
— carl hulse (@hillhulse) January 14, 2020
The Washington Post’s White House reporter Seung Min Kim believes that “excessive restrictions like these only hurt the public,” and I couldn’t agree more.
Excessive restrictions like these only hurt the public who are rightfully seeking up-to-date information on an incredibly historic event such as the third impeachment trial of a U.S. president in history. I am floored. https://t.co/bX3aveurrd
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) January 14, 2020
Photographer David Hobby commented on the Senate’s decision with a tweet that pretty much sums up my own thoughts: “If you’re trying to erase a moment from history, job one is to ensure no still cameras are there to record it.”
If you’re trying to erase a moment from history, job one is to ensure no still cameras are there to record it. https://t.co/FB8qWscx8i
— David Hobby (@strobist) January 15, 2020
[via DPReview; lead image credits: Gage Skidmore on Flickr]
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