Hush-money judge rips Trump witness who scoffed at his rulings: 'You don't give me the side-eye!'

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By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . You can opt-out at any time. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview The judge overseeing Donald Trump's ongoing hush-money trial ripped into one of the former president's witnesses Monday for heckling his rulings — then cleared the courtroom of journalists to scold the witness some more. The witness, attorney Robert Costello, was called by the defense to attack the credibility of key prosecution witness Michael Cohen. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. But the Nassau County-based attorney repeatedly chafed at being interrupted by the judge sustaining prosecution objections, at one point muttering "Jeez," and "Ridiculous." Within minutes of taking the stand, Costello was in open conflict with New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, the judge presiding over the case. Advertisement "Mr. Costello I wanted to — I'd like to discuss proper decorum in my courtroom, ok?" Merchan began, after dismissing the jury from the courtroom. "If you don't like my ruling you don't say 'Jeez," you don't give me side eye, and you don't roll your eyes," the judge scolded. "You don't say 'strike it,'" the judge told the witness, adding that it's his job, not the witness' to strike testimony. In response to the scolding, Costello glared at the judge. "Are you staring me down?" the judge asked him angrily. Advertisement "Clear the courtroom!" he ordered. The tumult erupted on a busy day of court, during which the prosecution rested, the defense began its case, and a revised schedule for the rest of the trial was revealed. Closing arguments and the start of deliberations have now been pushed back to the Tuesday after Memorial Day. Merchan shouting, "Clear the courtroom!" set off a loud chain reaction in the courtroom. Related stories Shouting court officers demanded journalists leave — and many of them shouted back in protest as they did so. Lawyers and the front-row entourages of the defense and the prosecution were allowed to remain. Advertisement Robert Balin, an attorney representing a consortium of media organizations, protested but was removed as well, with a court officer leading him out by the arm. The video and audio feed to the court's overflow room — a second courtroom where press and members of the public watch the trial on screens — was cut off. After less than five minutes, journalists were led back into the courtroom, and questioning from Trump's lawyer, Emil Bove, resumed. Ahead of Costello's testimony, Merchan issued rulings limiting what Costello would be permitted to testify about. Advertisement Cohen — the prosecution's key witness in the case over allegations that Trump's falsified business records to disguise a hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels — previously testified that Costello was part of Trump's "pressure campaign" to keep him from flipping against Trump in 2018. Costello served as a "back channel" to Trump through his friend, the lawyer Rudy Giuliani, Cohen said. Merchan said Trump's lawyers could ask about his meetings and calls with Cohen, but could not have a "trial within a trial" about the scope of the alleged pressure campaign. Bove asked such questions anyway. Merchan repeatedly sustained objections from prosecutors and called sidebar conferences, which journalists could not hear. During one of these conferences, Costello audibly said "ridiculous" from the witness stand and let out a heavy sigh. Advertisement Costello backed up the narrative from Trump's lawyers that Cohen paid hush money to Stormy Daniels on his own, without Trump's knowledge. "Michael Cohen said numerous times that President Trump knew nothing about these payments," Costello said. "That he did this on his own. And he did this numerous times." Costello has been a frequent critic of the Manhattan District Attorney's case against Trump. He spoke in front of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives committee on the "weaponization of government," echoing Trump's claims that the case is politically motivated.