Grassley Joins Erika Kirk In Calling For Cameras In Courtroom Msn

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 18, 2025, 10:44 PM

grassley joins erika kirk in calling for cameras in courtroom msn

Floor Remarks by Senator Chuck Grassley of IowaChairman, Senate Judiciary Committee“Cameras in the Courtroom”Tuesday, November 4, 2025 I want to complement Erika Kirk, wife of assassinated conservative leader Charlie Kirk. She has made an emotional appeal to have cameras in the courtroom at the trial of her husband’s murderer. I commend her for this brave plea, because it fits in with a stand I’ve been taking for the last couple of decades. Courts at both the state and federal level have a massive impact on our daily lives and the lives of generations to come, yet few Americans get the chance to see the nation’s courts... Sen.

Chuck Grassley, the Senate Judiciary Committee chair, praised Erika Kirk for what he called a brave plea to have cameras in the courtroom for her husband's accused assassin while speaking on the Senate floor... Sen. Chuck Grassley, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has waded into the fight to allow cameras in court for Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old Utah man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk. Grassley, who has long supported the idea of allowing cameras into federal courtrooms, where they're currently banned, referred to Kirk's slaying as one of the "pivotal moments in history" and argued that such cases... "I want to compliment Erika Kirk, wife of assassinated conservative leader Charlie Kirk. She has made an emotional appeal to have cameras in the courtroom at the trial of her husband’s [alleged] murderer," he said on the Senate floor Tuesday.

"I commend her for this brave plea, because it fits in with a stand I’ve been taking for the last couple of decades." CHARLIE KIRK'S WIDOW FIGHTS TO KEEP NEWS CAMERAS IN COURTROOM FOR ACCUSED ASSASSIN'S TRIAL Senator Chuck Grassley, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, expressed support for Erika Kirk’s recent call to allow cameras in the courtroom during the trial of her husband’s alleged murderer. Erika Kirk is the widow of Charlie Kirk, a conservative leader who was assassinated. In remarks delivered on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Grassley acknowledged Erika Kirk’s appeal and connected it to his own long-standing advocacy for increased transparency in federal courts. “I want to complement Erika Kirk, wife of assassinated conservative leader Charlie Kirk.

She has made an emotional appeal to have cameras in the courtroom at the trial of her husband’s murderer. I commend her for this brave plea, because it fits in with a stand I’ve been taking for the last couple of decades,” Grassley said. Grassley noted that while many state courts allow cameras in their courtrooms, this practice is not required at the federal level. He stated his belief that introducing cameras would increase public understanding and confidence in judicial proceedings: “Courts at both the state and federal level have a massive impact on our daily lives and the... He added that “Cameras would boost transparency and [help] Americans grow in confidence and understanding of the judiciary if we had cameras in the federal courtrooms.” Grassley referenced resistance from some Supreme Court justices... Concluding his remarks, Grassley reiterated his position: “But I happen to believe that cameras in the federal courts, like state courts, would boost transparency and help Americans grow in confidence and understanding of the...

When pivotal moments in history happen, we shouldn’t be timid in calling for greater transparency that history demands in the federal courts.” 'Cameras would boost transparency and Americans’ confidence in the American judiciary...' (Ken Silva, Headline USA) Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has joined the growing number of voices calling for cameras to be allowed in the courtroom to record the proceedings of alleged Charlie Kirk killer Tyler Robinson. “I want to compliment Erika Kirk, wife of assassinated conservative leader Charlie Kirk. She has made an emotional appeal to have cameras in the courtroom at the trial of her husband’s murderer,” Grassley said Tuesday on the Senate floor, referencing Erika’s recent calls for transparency.

“I commend her for this brave plea, because it fits in with a stand I’ve been taking for the last couple of decades.” Sen. Chuck Grassley has waded into the fight to allow cameras in court for Tyler Robinson.He referred to Charlie Kirk's slaying as one of the "pivotal moments in history" and argued that such cases should... He commended Erika for her plea. pic.twitter.com/z820mzpiJm Charlie Kirk, speaking last April at Texas A&M University, was assassinated in September at an event at Utah Valley University.

(Photo by Meredith Seaver/The Bryan College Station Eagle via the Associated Press) The widow of slain conservative political activist Charlie Kirk has called for the murder trial of his suspected killer to be on camera, prompting a top Republican U.S. senator to renew calls for legislation allowing video cameras in federal courtrooms nationwide. “There were cameras all over my husband when he was murdered,” Erika Kirk told Fox News host Jesse Watters in an interview scheduled to air Nov. 5. “There have been cameras all over my friends and family mourning.

… We deserve to have cameras in there.” USA Today, the Salt Lake Tribune and other media outlets reported her remarks. Courthouse News Service reports that Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley, a Rebublican from Iowa, said cameras should be permitted in all federal courts. Q: Why are you continuing to push for cameras in federal courtrooms? A: Opening up the federal courthouse to cameras would help foster civic engagement and boost public confidence in our legal system.

As a watchdog for good government, I’ve led a crusade for nearly three decades to let the sun shine on federal court proceedings so people can see the wheels of justice in action and... My legislative efforts align with the intent of the founding fathers who believed public trials would help prevent abusive government power and uphold public confidence in the justice system. John Adams said the right to a trial by jury, along with representative government, serve as the “heart and lungs of liberty.” Although American life in the 21st century is much different than in the 18th century, the founding principles must remain ironclad as a check on government power to uphold America’s promise of freedom and... Allowing cameras in the courtroom would give the American people a front row seat to the federal judiciary, a co-equal branch of the federal government that has tremendous influence over civic life and the... Transparency brings accountability.

Just consider, cameras have captured every minute of Senate floor proceedings since 1986. Earlier this year, I cosponsored a bipartisan resolution to commemorate the 39th anniversary of C-SPAN 2’s gavel-to-gavel Senate coverage, connecting the American people via a nonpartisan lens to the people’s business. I supported C-SPAN’s fight to be platformed by streaming giants to keep pace with how Americans obtain news and entertainment and welcomed the agreement that they will carry C-SPAN’s coverage of Congress and public... Just as the American people have a front row seat to the legislative branch, they deserve a front row seat to the judicial branch. Giving people the opportunity to observe its work will enhance public awareness and understanding. The Father of the Constitution, James Madison, extolled the need for an engaged and educated citizenry as an essential lever for the preservation of liberty and the longevity of our republic.

That’s why I champion sunshine laws, from strengthening the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to expanding whistleblower protections and broadening public access to the courtroom. As Madison wrote, “…a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.” His words of wisdom written 200 years ago are a clarion call today... Q: What are your two bills that would put cameras in the courts? In a poignant display of bipartisan support for judicial transparency, Senator Chuck Grassley has entered the debate over allowing cameras in the courtroom for the trial of Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of assassinating... Speaking on the Senate floor Tuesday, Grassley praised Erika Kirk, the widow of the slain conservative figure, for her “brave plea” to keep cameras in the courtroom during her husband’s murder trial. “I want to compliment Erika Kirk,” Grassley stated.

“She has made an emotional appeal to have cameras in the courtroom at the trial of her husband’s [alleged] murderer.” This stance aligns with the position Grassley has advocated for decades, viewing high-profile cases... The current legal landscape regarding courtroom cameras varies dramatically between state and federal jurisdictions. While most states, including Utah where Robinson faces charges, either allow cameras or give judges discretion over their use, federal courts maintain a blanket ban. This disparity has created tension in Robinson’s case, where his defense team has argued that restricting cameras doesn’t violate media First Amendment rights. Utah Judge Tony Graf has already granted Robinson’s request to wear civilian clothes during proceedings but denied his motion to appear without shackles. Notably, the judge has permitted Robinson to attend his last two public hearings remotely without being on camera, while delaying a definitive ruling on the broader camera issue pending further briefings from both legal...

Erika Kirk has emerged as a powerful voice advocating for transparency in the proceedings. In a moving interview with Fox News’ Jesse Watters, she articulated her position: “There were cameras all over my husband when he was murdered. There have been cameras all over my friends and family mourning. There have been cameras all over me, analyzing my every move, analyzing my every smile, my every tear. We deserve to have cameras in there.” Her statement cuts to the heart of the issue – while the media has extensively covered the tragedy and its aftermath, including intense scrutiny of the victims... This imbalance raises profound questions about fairness and accountability in our justice system, especially in cases of significant public interest.

Legal experts like Royal Oakes, who successfully argued for camera access during O.J. Simpson’s murder trial, support this position from a constitutional perspective. “Criminal defendants have a right to a fair trial, but not to privacy or to try and minimize public interest in the case,” Oakes explained to Fox News Digital. He further emphasized that “citizens are entitled to observe hearings and a trial, and make up their own minds about the allegations” regardless of the eventual verdict. This perspective centers on the fundamental principle that justice should not only be done but should be seen to be done, particularly in cases that have captured national attention and reflect deeper societal divisions. The public’s right to witness judicial proceedings serves as a crucial check on the system and fosters greater understanding of complex legal processes.

Senator Grassley has translated his advocacy into concrete legislative action, sponsoring two bipartisan bills to address these issues systematically. The Sunshine in the Courtroom Act would empower all federal judges with the authority to permit cameras in their courtrooms, while the Cameras in the Courtroom Act specifically targets the Supreme Court, requiring televised... These legislative efforts represent a substantial push toward greater judicial transparency at the highest levels of American jurisprudence. The bipartisan nature of these bills suggests that courtroom transparency transcends typical political divides, speaking to core values about public access to government institutions. Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Senate Judiciary Committee chair, praised Erika Kirk for what he called a brave plea to have cameras in the courtroom for her husband's accused assassin while speaking on the Senate floor...

Grassley Joins Erika Kirk In Calling For Cameras In Courtroom Msn

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