After the questioning of a juror, Merchan admonished Trump for seeming to talk in a way that was audible.
“I will not have any jurors intimidated in this courtroom. I want to make this crystal clear,” Merchan said.
Merchan allowed the juror, whose Facebook post was at issue, to enter the courtroom so that Trump’s lawyer, Blanche, could question her.
Before the potential juror entered, Merchan warned Blanche that he shouldn’t treat this moment as a cross-examination but rather just asking simply what the social media post was about.
The juror explained, “I think I was going to my car for alternate side of the street parking. And there were people honking in the street.” She said it reminded her of cheering during Covid for health care workers in New York every evening.
She started to reiterate that regardless of her political beliefs, she would be able to be an impartial juror.
After the juror left the room, Merchan said he wanted to get something on the record. “While the juror was 12 feet from your client,” the judge said, “your client was audibly” saying something in the direction of the juror.
Blanche then walked over to Trump and whispered in his ear.
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