NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 11: Former U.S. President Donald Trump and his lawyers Christopher Kise and Alina Habba attend the closing arguments in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court on January 11, 2024 in New York City. Trump won't make his own closing arguments after his lawyers objected to Judge Arthur Engoron's insistence that Trump stay within the bounds of "relevant, material facts that are in evidence" of the case. Prosecutors allege that Trump and his two sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump conspired to inflate his net worth on financial statements provided to banks and insurers to secure loans. New York Attorney General Letitia James has sued seeking $370 million in damages. (Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images)
During jury selection for Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial, Judge Juan Merchan accused the former president of “intimidating” a juror after he made a gesture and muttered at him.
Merchan asked Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, to “speak to him” about his behavior.
“Your client was audibly uttering something. He was gesturing and muttering in the direction [of the juror],” the judge said to Blanche.
“I will not tolerate that,” Judge Merchan added, raising his voice. “I will not have any jurors intimidated in this courtroom. Take a minute and speak to your client about it!”
On day two of jury selection, the former president and his lawyers had a potential juror dismissed over a Facebook post he wrote about Trump in 2017.
“Get him out and lock him up,” the man wrote.
When the potential juror had been called into court to explain his actions, he admitted that he had “strong feelings at the time” but also stated that he could be unbiased today.
Merchan stated the quote about wanting Trump to be thrown in jail was problematic.
“Everyone knows if Mr. Trump is found guilty in this case there’s a potential jail sentence which would be lock up,” he said.
In response to that, Trump shook his head.
“I don’t think I can allow this juror to remain,” the judge added.
The former president’s lawyers opposed another potential juror because she posted videos on social media in which people honked their horns to celebrate Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election.
Merchan stated that the woman gave “reasonable explanations” for the videos, argued that she could be unbiased and denied the request made by Trump’s team to keep her out of the jury.
The judge then denied a request to dismiss the female potential juror based on her husband’s Facebook posts, which led to an odd exchange in court.
The judge described a meme of a character from the animated television show, The Simpsons, holding Trump’s head with a picture of Barack Obama in the frame.
“I don’t think this is what they meant with orange is the new black,” the post’s caption read.
In early April, former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann said that Trump could face prison time if he ends up being convicted of falsifying business records in his New York hush money trial.
Weissmann noted that Trump’s frequent attacks on Merchan and his family could backfire on him.
On April 1, the judge expanded a gag order in the hush money case. This prevented the former president from incessantly attacking his daughter, Loren Merchan.
At first, this gag order prevented Trump from making public statements about witnesses, other prosecutors, court staff, and even their family members if these statements were “made with the intent to materially interfere with” the case.
According to The New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, Trump appeared to fall asleep a few times in court on April 15, the first day of his hush money trial in Manhattan.
Haberman then stated the former president glared at her in the courtroom after she reported that he fell asleep.
While being interviewed by the CNN news anchor Kaitlan Collins, Haberman talked about the event of Trump glaring at her.
Despite having stated that “if anyone falls asleep who’s a criminal defendant in a case,” it is going to be reported, she also mentioned that Trump “doesn’t like when such things are reported” and presumed that was why he glared at her.
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