The judge in Donald Trump’s historic hush money case ripped into the former president after he mumbled and waved at a potential juror.
Judge Juan Merchan asked Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, to “talk to him” about his behavior.
This came as Trump already faces jail time for contempt of court if he violates a hush order barring him from attacking those involved in the case.
Addressing Mr Blanche, the judge said: “Your client was uttering something audibly. He was gesturing and muttering towards (the juror).
Raising his voice, the judge continued: “I will not tolerate this. I will not let any juror be intimidated in this courtroom. Take a minute and talk to your client about it! ‘
Former US President Donald Trump sits at the defense table during jury selection in his trial on charges of falsifying business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan State Court in New York, United States, on April 16, 2024. in this courtroom sketch.
Judge Juan Merchan criticized Trump in court
Margo Martin (center), deputy communications chief for former U.S. President Donald Trump, enters the courtroom during the second day of his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 16, 2024 in New York .
This came as Trump and his lawyers had a potential juror removed following a 2017 social media post.
The potential juror had written on Facebook about Trump, who was then president.
They wrote: “Bring him out and lock him up.”
When the potential juror was called into court to explain himself, he said, “I had very strong feelings at the time,” but he could be impartial today.
Former US President Donald Trump sits as his lawyer Todd Blanche speaks during the second day of jury selection in his hush money criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, New York, USA , April 16, 2024.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits in the courtroom with attorney Todd Blanche on the second day of his trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, New York, U.S., April 16, 2024.
Justice Merchan stated that The quote about wanting Trump thrown in jail was a problem.
He said: “Everyone knows that if Mr. Trump is convicted in this case, he faces potential prison time.”
At this, Trump, looking away, shook his head.
Judge Merchan said: “I don’t think I can allow this juror to stay.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits with his lawyers as Judge Juan Merchan oversees proceedings in Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, April 15, 2024, in this sketch of the courtroom.
Judge Merchan then denied a request to dismiss a potential juror over her husband’s Facebook posts, leading to a bizarre sequence in court.
The judge described a meme depicting a “Simpsons” character holding Trump’s head with a photo of Barack Obama in the frame.
The caption read: “I don’t think that’s what they meant by orange is the new black.”
The judge read another post that was a meme with the caption: “The Avengers unite against Donald Trump…and to get Mark Ruffalo naked.”
Judge Merchan said if the worst thing they could find from the juror was messages from her husband that were “humor, even if it wasn’t very good humor”, dating back to when he eight years ago, it gave him confidence in the juror.
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