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Merchan briefly closes courtroom, forcing reporters into hallway
Judge Juan M. Merchan on Monday afternoon briefly closed the courtroom where Donald Trump's criminal trial is being held, forcing reporters into the hallway after he admonished witness Robert Costello for his behavior.
Costello aggravated Merchan repeatedly in his testimony by making comments under his breath and continuing to speak after objections were sustained - a signal to witnesses to stop talking.
At one point, frustrated as he was again cut off by a sustained objection, Costello remarked, "Jeez."
"I'm sorry? I'm sorry?" a peeved Merchan asked.
"Strike it, I'm -." Costello replied, cutting himself off.
At another point, he called the whole exercise, "ridiculous."
After excusing the jury, Merchan told the witness: "Mr. Costello, I want to discuss proper decorum in my courtroom. When there's a witness on the stand, 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."
"Are you staring me down right now? Clear the courtroom, right now. Clear the courtroom," the judge said.
For several minutes, there were no reporters in the courtroom or video access to the proceedings in the overflow room.
Jurors and reporters returned a short time later.