
The judge overseeing Donald Trump‘s hush money trial in New York City forewarned the former president’s attorney on Tuesday that his client would not be allowed to curse aloud during Stormy Daniels’ testimony because the witness may find it intimidating.
The official court transcript that was made public on Tuesday night states that the conversation took place during a sidebar between state Judge Juan Merchan and Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche.
It made for an even more bizarre day in court as adult film actress Daniels described what she claimed to be a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump.
According to the transcript, Merchan said to Blanche, “I know your client is upset right now, but he is cursing audibly and shaking his head visually, and that’s contemptuous.”
“The jury can see that it has the potential to intimidate the witness,” he continued.
The transcript revealed that Blanche’s response was that he would speak with Trump.
Merchan added, “I am speaking to you here at the bench because I don’t want to embarrass him,” referring to their private conversation that was not visible to the rest of the courtroom.
Merchan went on, “You should talk to him.” That won’t stand here.
Before giving Merchan more instances of Trump’s courtroom antics, Blanche once more promised to speak with Trump.
“I once noticed that he shook his head and looked down after Ms. Daniels testified about rolling up the magazine and possibly slapping your client. And then, when we were talking about The Apprentice, I believe he was staring at you, Mr. Blanche. At that moment, he once more used profanity and turned to face you. Merchan said, “Mr. Blanche, please talk to him at the break,” as per the transcript.
“Sure, I will,” answered Blanche.
On Monday, Merchan determined that Trump had once more disregarded the jury or witnesses, in violation of a gag order that went into effect on April 1. He threatened to put Trump in jail “if necessary” if he committed any more infractions. For the infractions, Trump has already been fined $10,000.
The case revolves around payments made to Daniels by Trump’s attorney at the time, Michael Cohen, in the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign.
In exchange for Daniels’ silence regarding her allegations of having a sexual encounter with Trump, Cohen gave her $130,000. Tuesday was Daniels’ testimony regarding the alleged sexual encounters she had with Trump and the money exchanged for her silence. Trump has contested her allegations and entered a not guilty plea to all of them.