Former President Donald Trump was wide awake as he entered court Friday as he railed against New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan.
Trump spoke to reporters prior to starting the fourth day of his trial for allegedly paying hush money to former porn star Stormy Daniels, according to Newsweek.
“The conflict has to end with the judge. The judge has a conflict, the worst I’ve ever seen, and it has to end with the judge,” Trump said. “The judge has to take off this gag order, it’s very, very unfair that my Constitutional rights have been taken away.”
Last April, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg indicted indictment Trump for “fraudulently falsified New York business records to conceal crimes that hid damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 presidential election.”
Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial.
Trump has maintained his innocence and has said the court’s actions are politically motivated.
A gag order was issued previously when Trump criticized Merchan’s daughter, works with high-level Democratic politicians.
Trump’s lawyers filed a motion for Merchan taken off the case “due to her allegedly benefitting professionally from Trump’s legal battles,” Newsweek reported.
Twelve jurors have been seated — seven men and five women, according to ABC News.
The five alternate seats should be filled Friday and opening arguments could begin Monday, according to the outlet.
Legal experts have weighed in on Trump not standing when the jury is brought into the courtroom as is protocol.
“In my over 20 years practicing criminal law, I have never observed a defendant refuse to stand and face the jury. Any competent lawyer would tell their client that his fate is in the jury’s hands and they will watch everything he does,” legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti posted on X, formerly Twitter. “Trump’s disrespect for the jury is unwise.”
Merchan said the court would hear arguments regarding alleged gag order violations by Trump.
“The prosecution introduced a motion to sanction Trump for social media posts that they argue violate the order,” Newsweek reported. “The prosecution requested Trump be fined $1,000 for each of three potential violations.”
