The transcripts from Day 19 of Donald Trump’s hush money criminal trial give a little more detail about what happened between Judge Juan Merchan and Michael Cohen’s former legal adviser, Bob Costello, who was the defense’s second witness on Monday.
“Sir, your conduct is contemptuous right now,” Merchan told Costello after the courtroom was cleared, according to the transcript.
“I’m putting you on notice that your conduct is contemptuous,” Merchan said. “If you try to stare me down one more time, I will remove you from the stand.”
“I will strike his entire testimony; do you understand me?” Merchan then asked Trump defense attorney Emil Bove.
“Yes, Judge. I understand,” Bove responded.
The transcript also notes that court officers had “great difficulty” clearing the courtroom, which is “made up primarily of the press.”
Merchan acknowledged that and said, “I can appreciate that the press wants to be present for every part of these proceedings, therefore, this record is not sealed. The press will have access to this record.”
