The judge presiding over Donald Trump’s hush money trial in New York City warned the former president’s lawyer Tuesday that he would not tolerate his client’s “cursing audibly” during Stormy Daniels’ testimony, saying it could be intimidating to the witness.
The exchange between state Judge Juan Merchan and Trump attorney Todd Blanche occurred during a sidebar, according to the official court transcript that was released Tuesday evening.
It added to an already surreal day in court in which Daniels, an adult film actor, detailed what she said was a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006.
Merchan told Blanche, “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,” according to the transcript.
“It has the potential to intimidate the witness and the jury can see that,” he added.
Blanche responded that he would talk to Trump, the transcript showed.
Merchan, referring to their discussion, which was out of earshot from the rest of the courtroom, also told Blanche, “I am speaking to you here at the bench because I don’t want to embarrass him.”
Merchan continued: “You need to speak to him. I won’t tolerate that.”