A coalition of 19 media outlets and journalism organizations asked a federal court to unseal tapes of the depositions given by aides to Hillary Clinton in a lawsuit over her private emails.

However, a judge denied that request Monday in a move that will keep the controversial recordings under wraps.

The groups included Fox News, the Associated Press, CBS and NBC as well as the Society of Professional Journalists and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

Six Clinton aides have been questioned in the Freedom of Information Act lawsuit brought by Judicial Watch, a conservative group. A judge is presently considering Judicial Watch's request to interview Clinton herself.

Each deposition was filmed and transcribed. Lawyers for Clinton's aides successfully persuaded the court to seal the tapes from the depositions for fear that the clips could be manipulated for political purposes in the context of the presidential election.

"[A]ccess to the audiovisual recordings of the depositions will provide the public with a more accurate and complete record of the testimony given by public officials in this case," the media coalition argued in documents filed with the court Monday.

The press groups noted that video of the depositions would contain "forms of nonverbal communication" that would "not only provide important context for a witness's statements, they are essential indicators of a witness's credibility and veracity."

But a federal judge disagreed, denying the request later that day. The judge is expected to issue a decision soon on whether Judicial Watch attorneys can question Clinton over her private email use.