SAN DIEGO (CN) — A host of media outlets took Donald Trump to task in Federal Court Wednesday, arguing he cannot prove he will be harmed or prejudiced if they win their push for the release of his deposition videos in the Trump University class action saga.
U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel heard arguments from The Washington Post, New York Times and handful of other national outlets as to why the videotaped depositions of Trump should be publicly released.
Trump's deposition was taken for two San Diego class actions brought by former students of the now-defunct Trump University. The students in Low v. Trump University and Cohen v. Trump claim they were defrauded by marketing tactics used by the school as a "get rich quick" scheme to cash in on the foreclosure crisis.
The Washington Post led the other media outlets last month seeking the release of deposition videos taken of Trump in late 2015 and early 2016. Given the prominence Trump University has played in Trump's stump for president — with the presumptive GOP nominee's own public disclosure — the public interest in viewing the tapes "would provide the electorate with valuable insight into the demeanor" of the presidential nominee, the outlets argued in documents lodged in court.
While the transcripts of Trump's depositions are available almost in their entirety, the videos will show the nuances of Trump's response through his gesticulating, facial expressions and tone — cues that will add context to his answers when he was probed about his involvement in Trump University, the outlets argued.
But that argument is precisely why Trump has dug in his heels over releasing the videotapes, claiming he will not only be prejudiced during the trial — the first of which is set for late November, after the presidential election — but in his campaign for the White House.
Following a motion to intervene by the outlets, Trump requested the court make the current protective order, which applies to both San Diego class actions, even more strict: The candidate wants to prohibit the filing of any videotaped deposition unless it remains under seal, and bar the dissemination of any videotaped deposition.
In the weeks leading up to the hearing, multiple documents were filed in relation to Trump's motion to amend the protective order and the media outlets' motion to intervene to get the tapes released. Among the most outrageous arguments made in hundreds of pages filed is Trump comparing himself to everyone from late pop icon Prince, U.S. presidents and even his opponent Hillary Clinton in arguing for keeping the tapes sealed to avoid a "media frenzy."
The deposition videos were originally filed along with hundreds of other documents by the plaintiffs' attorney Jason Forge in their responses to Trump's motion for summary judgment in Cohen v. Trump. But because Forge did not follow court procedure and seek leave of court to file the videotapes, Judge Curiel blocked their release last month.