Judge said Trump was swearing during Stormy Daniels’ testimony

The judge presiding over Donald Trump’s secret trial warned the former president’s lawyer Tuesday that he would not tolerate his client “audibly insulting” during Stormy Daniels’ testimony, saying it could be intimidating for the witness.

The exchange between Judge Juan Merchan and Trump lawyer Todd Blanche took place during a sidebar, according to the official court transcript released Tuesday evening.

It comes on top of an already surreal day in court where Daniels, an adult film actress, detailed what she said was a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006.

In Merchan’s remarks to Blanche, the judge told him, “I understand that your client is upset at this point, but he is audibly swearing, and he is visually shaking his head and it is dismissive,” according to the transcript.

“It has the potential to intimidate the witness and the jury can see that,” Merchan added.

Blanche responded that he would speak to Trump, according to the transcript.

The judge, referring to their discussion off the bench, out of earshot of the rest of the courtroom, also told Blanche: “I’m talking to you here, on the bench, because I don’t want to embarrass her . »

Merchan continued: “You need to talk to him. I will not tolerate this.