Read the transcript: Trump hush money trial judge's heated exchange with witness

Savannah Kuchar and Aysha Bagchi, USA TODAY
·1 min read

The courtroom for Donald Trump's hush money trial got heated yesterday, after Judge Juan Merchan cleared jurors, spectators and press from the room to scold witness Robert Costello.

A key witness for the defense, Costello said "Jeez!" in an irritated tone when Merchan repeatedly sustained the prosecution's objections to his testimony. After another objection was sustained he sighed dramatically.

Merchan cleared the jury from the courtroom and confronted Costello about his breach of courtroom decorum. Merchan then asked Costello, "Are you staring me down right now?" He then removed the press and spectators and warned Costello.

"I'm putting you on notice that your conduct is contemptuous," Merchan said. "If you try to stare me down one more time, I will remove you from the stand."

Costello, a former federal prosecutor and veteran defense attorney, is back on the stand Tuesday, following Monday's fireworks.

Read Monday's transcript here:

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Read the transcript: Trump judge scolds witness in Monday's trial

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