How Trump’s potential Georgia trial 'could be televised in its entirety': report

Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis is expected this week to ask a grand jury to return indictments under the Peach State's version of the 1970 Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) against Donald Trump and his associates for attempting to nullify President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory.

If Willis is successful, NBC News correspondents Blayne Alexander and Charlie Gile explain, Trump's trial could be televised.

"Unlike federal or Manhattan courts, where the former president appeared for his three previous arraignments, Georgia law requires that cameras be allowed into judicial proceedings with a judge's approval," Alexander and Gile write, recalling that in 2018 the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that smartphones are permissible.

POLL: Should Trump be allowed to hold office again?

"Open courtrooms are an indispensable element of an effective and respected judicial system," the order read. "It is the policy of Georgia's courts to promote access to and understanding of court proceedings not only by the participants in them but also by the general public and by news media who will report on the proceedings to the public."

Because "Georgia requires that indictments be made public immediately" and "the presiding judge has the final say on camera access" when news outlets "file a formal request," Giles and Alexander say that Trump could appear "on camera for the first time as a defendant" and that his "potential criminal trial could be televised in its entirety."

Alexander and Giles add that "under Georgia law, judges can weigh several factors when deciding whether to allow cameras, including the consent of the parties involved, concerns over safety of those participating in proceedings and the impact on due process."

READ MORE: Fani Willis’ 'entire career has been preparing her' to prosecute Trump: report

Alexander's and Gile's report is available at this link.