Judge Merchan labeled 'crooked as hell' after expelling jury to admonish Trump witness Bob Costello in courtroom outburst

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: In a dramatic turn of events during Donald Trump’s hush money trial, the courtroom was thrown into disarray on Monday, May 20, when New York Justice Juan Merchan expelled the jury and reprimanded defense witness Robert Costello for his disrespectful conduct.

The episode unfolded shortly after Costello began his testimony, with the judge rebuking him for his audible reactions and expressions of frustration in response to objections. “You don’t like my rulings? You don’t say ‘jeez,'” Judge Merchan admonished. “You don’t roll your eyes. Do you understand that?”

Judge Merchan clears the courtroom

The tension escalated as the judge interrupted his own instructions to the jury, accusing Costello of insubordination. “Are you staring me down right now? Clear the courtroom,” he ordered, effectively ejecting members of the press, the public, and Trump’s entourage from the room as court officers shouted for everyone to leave.

A court transcript reveals that the judge threatened to remove Costello from the proceedings entirely.

“Sir, your conduct is contemptuous right now,” Judge Merchan stated emphatically once the courtroom was cleared. “I’m putting you on notice that your conduct is contemptuous. If you try to stare me down one more time, I will remove you from the stand. I will strike his entire testimony. Do you understand me?”

Costello asked if he could respond, but Merchan cut him off. “No,” the judge declared. “No. This is not a conversation.”

Robert Costello, an attorney known for his connections to Rudy Giuliani, is expected to be the trial’s final witness. His testimony aims to discredit critical evidence presented by Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney and self-described “fixer.”

Cohen's account

Cohen had previously testified about Costello's purported "pressure campaign" aimed at creating a back channel to Trump during Cohen's federal investigation.

According to Cohen, after federal agents raided his office and home in April 2018, Costello suggested representing him, which Cohen interpreted as a move to keep him loyal to Trump and prevent him from cooperating with federal investigators.

The uproar in the Manhattan courthouse came after a day of intense testimony and legal maneuvering.

On Monday afternoon, prosecutors wrapped up their case against Trump, following Cohen's detailed account of how his life was disrupted by his involvement in the scandal.

Cohen depicted the turmoil he endured after initially lying to "protect" his former boss, as he asserts.

Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records, related to a series of payments made to Cohen in 2017. These payments reimbursed Cohen for the $130,000 he gave to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to buy her silence regarding an alleged affair with Trump just weeks before the 2016 presidential election.

Prosecutors argue that Trump’s actions were part of a broader scheme to suppress damaging information that could have affected his campaign. On the other hand, Trump’s attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the case based solely on Cohen’s testimony.

Outside the courtroom, Trump vented his frustration, denouncing Judge Merchan as a “tyrant” in an impromptu press conference.

“You saw what we saw. That was an incredible display ... a tyrant,” Trump said. “This trial is a disaster for our country. It’s a disaster for New York City, New York State. The press, I imagine, is not happy they just got thrown out of a courthouse. Nobody’s ever seen anything like it.”

Judge Merchan faces backlash on social media

The courtroom drama quickly spilled over onto social media, with many slamming the judge for his conduct.

"Haha! This judge is a joke to the American judiciary," one posted on X.

"Judge doesn't like being outted. He is crooked as hell. Especially after his behavior today in court. He doesn't deserve to be called a Judge," another wrote. [sic]

"Judge Merchan needs to be disbarred. He’s not competent and qualified. As a matter of fact, he’s biased," someone else added.

"I can't believe that Merchan hasn't been disbarred. This man and his entire fiasco is a disgrace to America and our judicial system," a comment read.

"There’s a special welcoming committee in hell just for Judge Merchan," another chimed in.

Costello, who insists he did not pressure Cohen and acted solely in his client’s best interests, will resume his testimony on Tuesday, May 21, according to the Independent.

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