Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the New York v. Trump hush money trial against the former president, recently had to ask everyone to vacate the courtroom and admonished defense witness Robert Costello for being rude.
Reportedly, Costello was a lawyer who formerly advised Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and the prosecution’s star witness. According to CNN host Jake Tapper, the defense called Costello to the witness stand to question Cohen’s legitimacy as a witness.
Tapper said, “What’s going on is, Costello is really expressing disdain for Judge Merchan’s ruling. Costello shakes his head as if he were exasperated when Merchan sustained an objection from the prosecution about one of the questions. At another time, when the prosecution objected, Merchan told the lawyers to approach the bench and Costello could be heard saying on the microphone, ‘Ridiculous!’” Tapper noted, “Then, at another time, there was another objection that was sustained, Costello lets out a, ‘Jesus!’”
CNN chief legal affairs correspondent Paula Reid pointed out how quickly the situation escalated in the courtroom, which could have posed a “security concern.” Reid interrupted Tapper, stating, “Jake, the judge has just cleared the entire courtroom. It appears that now this has escalated to a security concern.”
Reid went on, “The fact that this has escalated to this extent, this is why there was disagreement within the Trump World about whether they should call Bob Costello. The only reason that he is being called is that the client insisted that he be called.”
Reportedly, Judge Merchan addressed Costello in a “raised voice” while instructing the jury to leave the courtroom. Costello apparently reacted dismissively to Merchan as he called out the witnesses’ conduct during the proceedings.
Tapper illustrated the nature of the scenario, recounting, “The judge told Costello in a raised voice when he told the jury to leave, “Mr. Costello, you’re to remain seated.” The jury leaves, then Costello, after another sustained objection, Costello rolls his eyes, lets out an audible sigh, side-glances the judge. The judge says, “I want to discuss proper decorum in my courtroom.” The judge says, “You don’t give me a side eye, and you don’t roll your eyes. If you don’t like my ruling, you don’t say ‘geez,’ you don’t say, ‘strike it.’ “Costello holds a long stare at the judge. The judge asks, “Are you staring me down?!” Then the judge says, “Clear the courtroom!”
"*" indicates required fields
Following Merchan’s dismissal of reporters and other members of the courtroom, they were allowed back in after several minutes. Tapper and Reid noted that they had not seen anything like this incident, where Reid was “posturing” to gain favor from Trump.
The American Tribune reported on recent comments from former President Trump, who has maintained his innocence in the hush money trial. The GOP frontrunner has continually asserted that the case brought against him is a politically motivated witch hunt, designed to keep him off of the campaign trail ahead of the upcoming election.
Trump said, “Virtually every Legal Analyst and Scholar said yesterday, at the end of the day, THAT THERE IS NO CASE, AND THAT THIS WITCH HUNT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN BROUGHT, AND SHOULD BE THROWN OUT NOW!!! WHY WASN’T THIS HOAX BROUGHT SEVEN YEARS AGO, INSTEAD OF IN THE MIDDLE OF MY WINNING CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT — ELECTION INTERFERENCE.”
Watch other updates about the hush money trial below: