Insiders describe scene in Trump's trial as man sets fire to self outside

As a man police are linking to conspiracy theories set himself on fire in a park outside the courthouse where Donald Trump has been sitting all week, witnesses described the scene inside the trial.

Reporters were just beginning to relay the information that a jury had been chosen when word came in of the fire. CNN quickly carried live footage of the flames.

Speaking about the incident afterward, MSNBC's Lisa Rubin said that the "overflow" room, which is primarily made up of the press covering Trump's trial, quickly hushed as the news was received.

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But inside the actual courtroom, where mobile devices and computers are not allowed, it's unclear if it was known what was going on.

A screen in front of Judge Juan Merchan, Rubin said, went blank.

Throughout the week, the crowd of protesters has dwindled from about 50 on the first day from both sides to only one or two. That cordoned-off area was where the self-immolator was standing, police said.

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"I will tell you, a reporter from another publication said to me, 'I don't even know if the Secret Service is going to allow him back here,'" Rubin recalled from the courtroom, talking about Trump.

"Some of us weren't sure we were going to continue this afternoon or even if Judge [Juan] Merchan knew what had gone on. It is not clear to us what's going to happen when we reconvene from the break or how the proceedings will happen."

Former federal prosecutor and legal analyst Harry Litman explained that whether or not the man was responding to the Trump trial, "This is going to be an intense, harrowing process."

See the update from Rubin and Craig below or at the link here.

Self-immolated man may ignite fears in Secret Service and tighter security for Trump trial youtu.be

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