Unveiling the narrative - A look into my six-week journey amidst the hush money trial of Donald Trump.
Day one at the Criminal Court in NYC was negative for me. I stood outside for three hours with other individuals, only to realize that all spots had been filled, and I was left waiting. The jury selection started without me. I learned from this, and on day two, I made sure to show up an hour earlier to grab a prime spot.
The weeks spent at the courthouse felt similar to my time as an altar boy in the Catholic Church. The wooden benches are uncomfortable, and there's always someone telling you to be quiet. Security measures in the courthouse are stringent. Journalists and media professionals can use laptops and phones in the "overflow room," but capturing or recording any part of the proceedings would lead to immediate ejection.
A co-worker from the United States took a photo with her phone during week two, as Donald Trump had already left. We were all preparing to exit the courtroom when a court officer spotted her breach of protocol. She was removed from the premises without warning. Though it wasn't a malicious act, the officers don't take kindly to such actions. I didn't see her again in court after that incident.
Court protocol and laughter
During the weeks of the trial, I connected with several amazing colleagues from the States. One of them is Norm Eisen from CNN, who is not too kindly referred to as "old." While we were sitting on one of the hard wooden benches, Norm asked me who I worked for. To my surprise, he was familiar with stern. Eisen once served as the US Ambassador to the Czech Republic, an appointment made by Obama.
When a court officer scolded someone for placing their bag on the seat next to them, Norm quipped that the officers were more like "prison guards." Laughter is strictly prohibited, so we kept it inside.
The courtroom and "overflow room" are both on the 15th floor of the Criminal Court. The exact room where Trump spent most weeks is Room 1530, where a trial was held against Harvey Weinstein. Trump likes to speak to the press daily. His press conferences usually last between five and fifteen minutes and occur either in the morning or early evening after the hearing. He almost never discusses anything in the middle of the hearing.
Special arrangements for Trump
The courthouse makes accommodations for Trump's daily statements. There's a designated space for him to deliver his speech. It's structurally identical to the metal barriers often used at concerts. Trump's speech typically lasts between five and fifteen minutes.
Interestingly, the area for Trump's statements is situated right next to the men's restroom. This may explain why some visitors avoid this area.
As the process continued, I noticed more and more supporters showing up to root for Trump. One of his close allies is Sebastian Gorka, who once spent time working for him in the White House. He now carries a souvenir briefcase featuring the seal of the US President. Initially, I believed it to be a nuclear code case. However, they're sold to the public like any other souvenir.
Unique eating habits?
Trump's team orders food weekly. They ordered McDonald's meals and pizzas at one point. Photographers captured members of his team carrying food boxes and bags into the courthouse. It's unknown whether he consumed any of these meals, though it might explain his occasional fatigue.
I've been communicating with a new colleague named Andrew Giuliani. He shares my accent and has a fondness for Zara suits and waterproof shoes. Andrew's last name is Giuliani; his son. He recently lost his bid for the Governor of New York position and now reports on the process for his followers on X. "There's no other way except an acquittal," Giuliani claimed. We'll likely cross paths again on Tuesday, when the closing arguments will be made.
Read also:
- Year of climate records: extreme is the new normal
- Precautionary arrests show Islamist terror threat
- UN vote urges Israel to ceasefire
- SPD rules out budget resolution before the end of the year
- During the 'Making-of' of my coverage of the 'US election' hush money trial, I learned about the strict court protocol that even applied to renowned figures like CNN's Norm Eisen, who was once the US Ambassador to the Czech Republic.
- The 'Hush money process' surrounding Donald Trump's trial took place on the 15th floor of the Criminal Court in New York, where rooms like Room 1530 have seen trials of notable individuals, such as Harvey Weinstein.
- Following the 'US election', Donald Trump's 'New York' trial had a significant impact on the proceedings, with supporters like Sebastian Gorka showing their support for the former president, even carrying souvenir briefcases featuring the seal of the US President.
Source: www.stern.de
