Editorial: It’s time we have access to video of federal court cases

A historic moment this week as former President Donald Trump was arraigned in a Florida courtroom. He faces federal charges for retention of classified documents, and conspiracy with a former aide to hide the documents from the government. No doubt there will be future court hearings. And potentially even a trial. The judge will rule on motions. Witnesses for and against the former president may be called. And unfortunately, you won’t see video of any of this. Cameras are barred from federal courtrooms. We’ll be left to see artist renderings and hear eyewitness accounts to judge what happened.It’s hard to believe, but in 2023 our federal judges still won’t allow cameras or microphones into their courtrooms. Here in Iowa, there’s a presumption of openness in the courts. Cameras have been allowed for more than 40 years. If ever a case called for transparency, this is it. Former President Trump and his supporters say the charges are politically motivated. They point to examples like Hilary Clinton’s email server, or the Biden family as the most recent examples of unfairness. On the campaign trail in Iowa, Republican Presidential candidate, Perry Johnson, proposed eliminating the FBI. What better way for Americans to judge the truth than to hear and see it for themselves? Sen. Chuck Grassley has long lobbied for video cameras in federal courtrooms. Americans have access to tons of information. It’s time we have access to video of federal court cases.