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Judge Juan M. Merchan told Robert Costello, a former federal prosecutor, that his conduct during testimony was contemptuous. Costello aggravated Merchan repeatedly in part by continuing to speak after objections were sustained — a signal to witnesses to stop talking. At one point, Costello remarked “jeez” when he was cut off by an objection. He also called the whole exercise “ridiculous.”
The judge overseeing Donald Trump's ongoing hush-money trial ripped into one of the former president's witnesses on Monday for heckling at his rulings — then cleared the courtroom of journalists to scold the witness some more.
"Mr. Costello I wanted to — I'd like to discuss proper decorum in my courtroom, OK?" Merchan said after dismissing the jury from the courtroom.
"OK, so when there is a witness on the stand, if you don't like my ruling, you don't say 'jeez,' OK?" the judge scolded.
"You don't say 'strike it,' because I'm the only one that can strike testimony in the courtroom," the judge told the witness.
"And then if you don't like my ruling, you don't give me side-eye, and you don't roll your eyes," the judge added.
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