Trump shakes his head as frustrated judge says he doesn't have to speak to the ... trends now
Donald Trump turned back to look at one of his top legal aides during a hearing on Thursday morning and shook his head, as his defense lawyer struggled to make his point to an increasingly irritated judge.
The former president is accused of four more breaches of a gag order.
Defense counsel Todd Blanche tried to argue that the restrictions were preventing his client from punching back against political opponents or responding to media reports about witnesses, such as National Enquirer publisher David Pecker.
'Everybody can say whatever they want, except President Trump,' Blanche said.
'They’re not defendants in this case,' Judge Juan Merchan shot back, triggering laughter in the public gallery. Nor are they subject to gag orders, he added.
Donald Trump took his seat in court on Thursday morning after spending Wednesday on the campaign trail, visiting the crucial swing states of Wisconsin and Michigan
Trump railed against the gag order on his social media site two hours before arriving in court
Prosecutors allege that Trump violated a gag order four times last week, calling his former lawyer Michael Cohen a 'liar' and former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, another witness, a 'nice guy' in interviews.
He also questioned the fairness of the jury as he continues to say the prosecution is political.
On Tuesday, he was fined $9000 for nine other breaches of an order designed to protect the jury, the court and witnesses.
The hearing on Thursday got testy at times, as Merchan signaled he will likely find Trump in breach of the order again.
One of the exchanges focused on the moment last week when Trump called his former fixer Michael Cohen a liar as he stood in the hallway outside the courtroom.
'You're telling me that the scrutiny is outrageous,' he continued. 'Nobody forced your client to go stand where he did that day.'
He added that Trump did not have to stand in front of media cameras set up in the hallway and that the exit is in a different direction.
At that point Blanche said he agreed, triggering the angry shake of the head from Trump who expects his lawyers to act as attack dogs rather than agreeing with judges.
The exchange showed Merchan's skepticism for Trump's claims that the gag is affecting his free speech rights and his run for president.
Press aide Margo Martin was with Trump again on Thursday morning
Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen was the subject of much of the contempt hearing
Blanche
