The judge who supervises that of Donald Trump The Manhattan criminal trial suddenly sealed its courtroom Monday afternoon, expelling all reporters so it could engage in a fight with Robert Costello, a pro-MAGA lawyer who played a key role in the attempted clandestine channel between Michael Cohen and the Trump White House in 2018.
After Costello, a former prosecutor, was reprimanded for making outbursts in court whenever he was interrupted or told not to answer an objected question and had been sustained, Costello began to stare at the judge.
“Mr. Costello, I would like to discuss decorum in my courtroom, okay?'” Judge Juan Merchan said after ordering the jury to leave the room.
“Good,” Costello replied.
Michael Cohen denounces theft of $30,000 from Trump
Merchan then told Costello that witnesses on the stand can’t “take action” if they don’t like a judge’s decision.
“I am the only one who can enrich the testimony in the courtroom. If you don’t like my decision, don’t look at me sideways. Do you understand this?”
“OK,” Costello replied.
But then, when Merchan turned around, he saw that Costello was looking straight at him again. “Are you looking down on me?” He asked.
At this, he ordered security to secure the courtroom and all reporters to leave so he could give Costello a bandage.
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