Court TV joins Human Events and Post Millennial in demanding transparency in trial of Tyler Robinson for murder of Charlie Kirk: 'Let the cameras roll'

Court TV’s Julie Grant on Wednesday backed the push to have cameras in the courtroom for the trial of Tyler Robinson, who has been charged with assassinating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. This comes as the defense has requested that cameras be banned from the courtroom to "minimize the effects of prejudicial pretrial publicity." Human Events Media Group has filed an open letter urging that cameras be allowed.

"Let the cameras roll," said Grant. "The defendant accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk wants to keep cameras out of the courtroom. His lawyers argue it will taint the prospective jury pool and jeopardize his right to a fair trial. They say after his first court appearance, the public scrutiny of his appearance and his movements was happening excessively because of what was shown in the courtroom."

"Well, when you pick up murder charges, public scrutiny usually comes with it. What did defendant Tyler Robinson think was going to happen next after he allegedly confessed to his lover that he assassinated Charlie Kirk? Do you think a walk in the park was coming next? No. Criminal charges and a trial, if he so chooses, are what comes next."

Grant noted that in Utah, "cameras are permitted to film and photograph court proceedings. We’ve seen time and time again with the trials that we broadcast here on CourtTV that cameras have zero bearing on the fairness of the trial," she continued, noting trials with "intense public scrutiny" such as OJ Simpson, Casey Anthony, and Karen Reed."

"The jurors aren’t watching the trial on TV. They’re not allowed to do that. So it sounds to me like this defendant just wants some special treatment. But he’s not special, and I suspect the judge will deny his request to exclude the cameras, but yet, still, that judge will ensure that Mr. Robinson receives the fair trial that he’s entitled to receive."

She concluded, "This was a murder meant for the world to see. The trial seeking justice for Charlie Kirk should be seen by the world as well."

The Human Events Media Group has submitted an open letter to Judge Tony Graf, respectfully urging him to allow cameras in the courtroom. Robinson’s defense has already been granted their requests for their client to appear in civilian clothing while in court. While they requested that their client not appear in shackles, Graf said he must wear them, but cameras would not be allowed to film him in his restraints.

The letter states, in part, "In the absence of official courtroom footage, speculative secondary content (YouTube commentary, AI-generated reenactments, partisan edits) will fill the void. This would stand to increase, not decrease, prejudicial distortion. Live unedited coverage is the most reliable antidote to misinformation, allowing the public to see proceedings as they occur, not as filtered through third-party narratives."