Shortly after leaving the courtroom on the last day of witness testimony, Donald Trump became enraged with both the judge overseeing his hush money trial in New York and one of the prosecutors.
The former president said the judge, who was born in Colombia, “hates” him in an 11-minute tirade that took place next to the men’s restrooms on the 15th floor of the criminal court building in central Manhattan. He also said, “Take a look at where he comes from.”
“Just take a look. Take a look at him. Take a look at where he comes from,” Mr Trump stated on Tuesday. “He can’t stand Donald Trump. He’s doing everything in his power.”
Born in Colombia, New York Justice Juan Merchan grew born in Queens, the same borough as President Trump.
His comments seemed to be a reiteration of Mr. Trump’s previous dog whistle attacks directed towards the court. In 2016, Mr. Trump claimed that because US District Judge Gonzalo Curiel is Mexican, he cannot be impartial in the US-Mexico border wall case.
While browsing through printed copies of right-wing commentators’ columns, Mr. Trump reportedly reiterated an antisemitic remark that Jewish Democratic supporters “should have their head examined” and vented about inflation.
Additionally, it seemed as though he was making the irrational claim that Assistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo was brought against him in this case by President Joe Biden in an attempt to prevent him from being elected president in 2024.
In 2022, Mr. Colangelo—a former official of the Justice Department with experience looking into business and the former president—was chosen to work in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
“Our country’s going to hell under Biden. But look at the person – why don’t you look at the person that argued their case, almost the entire case? Look at the person. Where did he come from? Unbelievable. He came from Biden,” Mr Trump stated on Tuesday.
Subsequently, he stated that the individual who “came in for one reason” was the one who “did all the talking.”
“He came from Washington DC, the White House and the DOJ,” Mr Trump stated. “And he argued the case. That means it’s Biden. That means it’s election interference by Sleepy Joe, our dumb-as-a-rock president who’s destroying our country.”
The comments he made about Mr. Colangelo seem to go outside the terms of a gag order that prevents Mr. Trump from criticizing the lawyers engaged in the case, as well as the jurors, witnesses, court employees, and their families.
He has already broken the gag order at least ten times, incurring fines of $10,000 and a threat of jail time for future infractions.
Related:
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A phalanx of Trump supporters has been in court with him in recent days, acknowledging that they are there to speak for him because he is unable to do so. However, the gag order prevents Mr. Trump from ordering anyone to speak for him.
The former president is accused of 34 counts of falsifying company records in connection with a plot to keep voters from learning about Stormy Daniels’ account of having sex with Mr. Trump in 2006. Mr. Trump’s most recent remarks come after the last day of witness testimony in the historic trial.
He denied ever having intercourse with the adult film celebrity and entered a not guilty plea. Mr. Trump eventually refrained from testifying, despite his repeated intimations that he would.
On May 28, following 22 witnesses’ evidence over the course of the previous five weeks, jurors will hear closing arguments from both sides.
A decision might be made as soon as May 29.
