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- Trump trial resumes after judge's admonishment of key defense witness
Trump trial resumes after judge's admonishment of key defense witness
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The trial of Robert Costello, a defense witness in Donald Trump's criminal hush-money case, descended into chaos after he repeatedly made comments under his breath and called the proceedings "ridiculous". Judge Juan Merchan told Costello that his conduct was "contemptuous" and warned him to refrain from making side-eye gestures. The trial is entering its 20th day, with Costello charged with falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment made to Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about an alleged sexual encounter. Trump's team has sought to undermine key testimony against the former president, including that of Michael Cohen, who was Trump's one-time consigliere and is considered a star witness for the prosecution.
If you try to stare me down one more time, I will remove you from the stand.
If you don't like my ruling, you don't say 'jeez' and then you don't say 'Strike it' because I'm the only one who can strike testimony in my courtroom.
Mr. Costello, I want to discuss proper decorum in my courtroom.
The fact that I had to clear the courtroom and that the court officers, including the captain, had great difficulty clearing the courtroom, and that there was argument back and forth between the press and including counsel for the press, goes to why I had to clear the courtroom in the first place.
I'm putting you on notice that your conduct is contemptuous.
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