Former President Trump’s judge, in a sideline conference Tuesday, admonished him for “audibly cursing” while porn star Stormy Daniels testified.
“I understand that your client is upset right now, but he is swearing loudly and visually shaking his head, which is dismissive. It has the potential to intimidate the witness and the jury can see that,” Judge Juan Merchan said during the brief debate, which took place just before the court’s morning break.
The judge talked on his bench – out of reach of jurors and reporters – which he indicated was to avoid embarrassment to the former president. The conversation surfaced in the official court transcript.
“I’ll talk to him,” Trump lawyer Todd Blanche responded to the judge.
“You need to talk to him. I will not tolerate this,” Merchan responded.
During much of Daniels’ testimony, Trump maintained a poker face that at times turned into a frown. He often whispered to his lawyers, particularly Blanche and Emil Bove, and at times appeared to go into a trance before turning his attention to the witness stand.
Her swearing, signaled by the judge, was virtually inaudible to reporters in the gallery, although it was unclear whether her comments could be heard by jurors or by Daniels herself.
Daniels took the stand for her highly anticipated testimony on Tuesday, telling the New York jury in detail her story of having sex with Trump at a celebrity golf tournament in 2006. Trump denies any sexual encounters with her.
Trump’s lawyers took issue with the graphic details shared by Daniels, and the testimony grew so raunchy that the judge appeared exasperated as the day went on.
The former president is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records over an alleged reimbursement scheme for his then-fixer, Michael Cohen, who paid Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about his story just before Trump’s 2016 election. .
Trump has pleaded not guilty and insists the records are true.
The porn actor will return to the stand on Thursday to continue questioning by Trump’s team.
Ella Lee contributed.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
