The judge presiding over Donald Trump’s secret trial warned the former president’s lawyer on Tuesday that he would not tolerate his client “audibly cursing” during Stormy Daniels’ testimony, saying it could be intimidating for the witness.
The exchange between Judge Juan Merchan and Trump attorney Todd Blanche occurred during a sidebar, according to the official court transcript released Tuesday night.
It added to an already surreal day in court in which Daniels, an adult film actress, detailed what she said was a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006.
In Merchan’s remarks to Blanche, the judge told him, “I understand your client is upset right now, but he is cursing loudly and visually shaking his head and that is dismissive,” according to the transcript.
“It has the potential to intimidate the witness and the jury can see that,” Merchan added.
Blanche responded that she will speak to Trump, the transcript showed.
The judge, referring to the discussion in the courtroom, which was out of earshot of the rest of the courtroom, also told Blanche, “I’m talking to you here in the courtroom because I don’t want to embarrass you.”
Merchan continued, “You need to talk to him. I will not tolerate this.”
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