Yet another odd incident in which the very odd judge in the Rittenhouse trial. Judge Bruce Schroeder announced this Thursday morning that MSNBC reporters will no longer be allowed inside of the courtroom amid the Kyle Rittenhouse trial.
What?
According to Mediaite, the judge found a fairly convoluted rationale for keeping MSNBC out of the courtroom entirely:
“The jury in this case is being transported from a different location in a bus with windows covered so that they aren’t exposed to anything on one side or the other, or interest in the case. So I’m going to call it a sealed bus. And that’s been done every day, and then they are brought here to this building,”
“Last evening, a person who identified himself as James G. Morrison, and who claimed that he was a producer with NBC News, employed by MSNBC … the police when they stopped him because he was following in the distance … and went through a red light, they pulled him over and inquired what was going on and he gave that information.”
“This is a very serious matter and I don’t know what the ultimate truth of it is. But absolutely, it would go without much thinking that someone who is following a jury bus, that is a very serious, extremely serious matter, and will be referred to the proper authorities for further action.”
Yes, it could be a serious action upon investigation, and yet it has not been investigated. Moreover, no one has accused anyone from NBC, never mind MSNBC of any sort of malfeasance within the courtroom. But that didn’t stop the judge that has established himself – through his own actions – as Trump’s dream judge in just such a case, from removing MSNBC (and only MSNBC) from the courtroom. If he must, it would have been more proper to remove all cameras from the courtroom.
Schroeder then revealed that he has “instructed that no one from MSNBC News will be permitted in this building for the duration,” also sharing that nobody at MSNBC had heard of Morrison.
NBC’s statement makes it pretty clear that MSNBC had nothing to do with any incident and there was never any danger of the jury being photographed:
“Last night, a freelancer received a traffic citation. While the traffic violation took place near the jury van, the freelancer never contacted or intended to contact the jurors during deliberations, and never photographed or intended to photograph them. We regret the incident and will fully cooperate with the authorities on any investigation.”
The “freelancer” may or may not have been right to follow the van. But to ban MSNBC – only – from the courtroom sounds like something that only Judge Schroeder might come up with as a solution.
This is wild!
Judge Bruce Schroeder is banning MSNBC from the courtroom for the rest of the trial because a man named James G. Morrison claiming to be from MSNBC trailed the jury bus last night.
There is no verification yet if Morrison is actually affiliated with the network. pic.twitter.com/GRbWdhqv50
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) November 18, 2021
Twitter is shocked:
“Following the bus” or following the same initial directions to their destinations? (i.e. roads to freeways, etc.) And no one from Oann, Fox, Brietbart, Turning Point, etc, did the same but were just not stopped? Sounds like an op, incl said police who stopped said producer.
— Koala (@mindfulkoala) November 18, 2021
I don't get it. Every person outside the courthouse has seen a bus with blacked out windows coming for the trial. Now, if he was following it away from the courthouse to the undisclosed parking area, that would be a problem.
— Sweet Sue, still (@SeeHateGoAway) November 18, 2021
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So, he's banning MSNBC from the courtroom, without further investigation or confirmation?
I mean, do we even know if this guy was telling the truth about who he represents?
Sounds like someone couldn't wait to rush to judgement. Imagine that.— SusieQ (@NastySusieQ) November 18, 2021
Of course this judge jumped at the chance to ban MSNBC, oh boy things are going his way, he must be thrilled.
— Patricia L. Franz (@patricialfranz) November 18, 2021
Whomever the person was gave the judge what he wanted. Who is this person and who stopped him? Don’t let go of this , especially with how this is all playing out with this judge. Something is not right so he is making left turn.
— RaiseYourVoice (@Vote4URLife1) November 18, 2021
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