The other news organizations seeking access are ABC, The Associated Press, BuzzFeed News, CBS, the Wall Street Journal, Gannett, NPR, NBC News, The New York Times, ProPublica, The Washington Post and broadcasters Gray Media Group and Tegna.
Much of the police body camera and other footage used so far in the Capitol riot cases hasn’t been seen by the media or the public, for reasons including court access restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic, technological challenges, the massive ongoing investigation and the Justice Department’s own refusals.
But judges have watched many videos during the court proceedings, and used video evidence in several cases to decide whether to keep Capitol riot defendants in jail.
“Lack of public access to these judicial proceedings is widespread,” the media coalition wrote to Chief Judge Beryl Howell on Monday. “Delayed access to these historic records shuts the public out of an important part of the administration of justice.”
Howell gave the Justice Department less than two days to respond in court.