Judge issues warning to Trump over his behaviour during Stormy Daniels’ testimony
A courtroom sketch of the moment Donald Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche (right) unsuccessfully requested that a mistrial be declared – Jane Rosenberg/REUTERS
The judge in Donald Trump’s hush money trial has issued a warning to the former president after he was heard swearing during testimony by adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
“I understand that your client is upset at this point, but he is cursing audibly, and he is shaking his head visually, and that’s contemptuous,” Judge Juan Merchan told Mr Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche during a sidebar conversation, according to excerpts of the official trial transcript released on Tuesday evening.
Ms Daniels was testifying in an extraordinary courtroom face-off with Mr Trump about the night she allegedly slept with the Republican in a hotel penthouse in 2006.
At times, she gave explicit details of the alleged affair, which Mr Trump has denied.
He is accused of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 (£104,000) hush money payment to Ms Daniels over the affair ahead of the 2016 election that brought him to power.
Mr Trump (shown in courtroom sketch, left) shook his head during testimony by Stormy Daniels (right), the judge in the case said – Jane Rosenberg/REUTERS
‘I don’t want to embarrass him’
Mr Trump was seen mouthing the word “b——-t” while Ms Daniels was describing how he was allegedly spanked with a rolled-up magazine with a picture of his face on it.
Justice Merchan said Mr Trump’s noise and gestures had “the potential to intimidate the witness and the jury can see that”. He later added: “I won’t tolerate that.”
He said he was raising his concerns during the sidebar, when lawyers huddle with the judge in conversations that are not meant to be audible to the jury or wider courtroom, because “I don’t want to embarrass him”.
The judge said he noticed the accused shaking his head in particular when Ms Daniels discussed swatting the billionaire with a magazine.
“I will talk to him,” Mr Blanche promised.
Mr Trump’s attorneys tried unsuccessfully on Tuesday to have a mistrial declared based on Ms Daniels’ testimony.
Speaking to reporters after the day’s proceedings, Mr Trump – who is running for president again this year – called the case a “disgrace” and said he “should be out campaigning right now”.
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