'Sit': Animated Trump lawyer ordered to take seat by hush money judge
Donald Trump's top lawyer Todd Blanche got a firm order from the judge in the hush money case Monday.
The attorney kept jumping up to interrupt a prosecutor as they argued about what evidence could be presented to the jury in the case involving allegations that Trump arranged for money to be paid to an adult movie actress to hide an affair from 2016 voters.
The judge, however, quickly tired of his antics — and ordered him to "sit."
"Blanche keeps jumping up to interrupt [Assistant District Attorney Josh Steinglass], but Merchan tells him to sit," Lawfare's Tyler McBrien reported.
Blanche wasn't the only one ordered to take a seat. Merchan, known for running a tight ship, made similar comments to Steinglass.
The animation came while the court discussed if the defense team could bring up Trump's ex-lawyer Michael Cohen's guilty pleas in an earlier trial. Trump's lawyers wanted to bring up one specific plea, but the judge complained it was an all-or-nothing deal.
Cohen previously pleaded guilty to tax evasion, making false statements to a bank, causing an unlawful campaign contribution and making an excessive campaign contribution.
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"Merchan says you can't just pick and choose between Cohen's crimes to which he pleaded guilty. Blanche says that this happens regularly," recounted McBrien.
"Blanche is a bit more animated now, saying that there's zero probative value (which he says twice for emphasis) in eliciting Cohen's testimony that he pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations."
On their side of the courtroom, the D.A.'s team were "deep in conversation," McBrien said. So, Merchan also told them to sit so Blanche could finish.
The D.A.'s office also discussed bringing up Trump's social media post that were aimed at Cohen.
These posts "incurred the wrath" of Trump's supporters, the D.A. said, explaining why they want them to be admissible.