They wanted to see “History” unfold before their eyes: in New York, a few rare Americans experienced Donald Trump’s trial from the courtroom, some going so far as to pay hundreds of dollars to avoid hours of queuing.
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“It was one of the most fascinating and interesting experiences of my life,” sums up Richard Partington, a local teacher, who came earlier and earlier to be the first in the queue. Until settling down on Saturday, sleeping bag and rug under arm, at the foot of the Manhattan court, for the resumption of the debates on Monday.
After passing the controls, at the end of an old, unwelcoming, neon-lit corridor on the fifteenth floor of the building, this teacher was one of the few who had the privilege of sitting on the wooden benches in the classroom. hearing, to witness the first criminal trial of a former president of the United States.
A historic, but non-televised, trial under the laws of the State of New York.
“There is a part of truth that we really see when we are in the courtroom, when we see Donald Trump pass by eight times a day, when we see the judge, the jury…” explains the 43 year old teacher.
“The result of this trial will probably swing the (presidential) election in one direction or the other,” he continues, without hiding his fear of a “second term for Donald Trump.” “I want to be there,” he adds.
“With my own eyes”
While the trial brought clusters of loudly pro-Trump or anti-Trump activists to the court every day, hundreds of Americans also waited in line for hours, night and day, to “see history.” get done,” as Peter Osetek says in the queue. This retired lawyer from San Diego, on the other side of the country, is passing through New York to see his son.
“A former president of the United States is on trial and it’s not televised. I want to see it with my own eyes,” adds Justin Ford, a 42-year-old computer scientist who came in the middle of the night from Connecticut, north of New York. He seems to know the affair of the hidden payments to the pornographic actress Stormy Daniels like the back of his hand, avidly reading the verbatim proceedings of the proceedings, broadcast on the court’s website.
But in the courtroom, the benches are mainly reserved for journalists, leaving six to eight places for the public. The trial is broadcast in another courtroom, on the same floor, which can accommodate around thirty people excluding the media.
At the foot of the building, the “first come, first served” rule prevails, fueling a unique trade. For about $50 an hour, a company will send its employees to wait in line for you. In the queue, some also say that the best locations were resold for up to $2,000 under the hood, when Donald Trump’s sworn enemy – Michael Cohen – testified.
A “rather sad” selection by money, deplores Justin Ford, who ultimately was unable to enter the court despite hours of waiting in line.
The price to pay
Funke Sangodeyi paid around $700 to live this experience in the broadcast room. For this “total politics junkie”, “seeing the American justice system hold a president accountable” and “being part of this crucial moment in our history” was priceless.
Like most of those interviewed, this 48-year-old consultant who lives in Brooklyn sees justice as a bulwark to prevent Donald Trump from returning to the White House. She hopes a conviction will cost her decisive votes. But what matters most, in the eyes of Cindy Mobley, who came from Baltimore, 2.5 hours by train, “is that no one is above the law.”
“I have the impression that it’s the last thing that holds us together,” adds this 64-year-old pediatrician, who spent part of the night in her sleeping bag, at the foot of the court.