Furious Judge Clears Courtroom Over Heated Exchange With Trump Witness: ‘Are You Staring Me Down Right Now!?’

Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial, cleared the courtroom and shut down defense witness Robert Costello for being disrespectful.

The prosecution rested its case Monday after Trump “fixer” Michael Cohen left the stand.

CNN’s Jake Tapper said Costello was a lawyer that “at one point had advised Michael Cohen” and was called by the defense to impeach Cohen’s credibility.

“What’s going on is, Costello is really expressing disdain for Judge Merchan’s ruling,” Tapper said. “Costello shakes his head as if he were exasperated when Merchan sustained an objection from the prosecution about one of the questions. At another time, when the prosecution objected, Merchan told the lawyers to approach the bench and Costello could be heard saying on the microphone, ‘Ridiculous!'” Tapper added, “Then, at another time, there was another objection that was sustained, Costello lets out a, ‘Jesus!'”

Paula Reid interrupted Tapper to say, “Jake, the judge has just cleared the entire courtroom. It appears that now this has escalated to a security concern.”

She continued, “The fact that this has escalated to this extent, this is why there was disagreement within the Trump World about whether they should call Bob Costello. The only reason that he is being called is that the client insisted that he be called.”

Tapper continued to recount the scene that led to Judge Merchan taking such drastic measures:

[The judge] told Costello in a raised voice when he told the jury to leave, “Mr. Costello, you’re to remain seated.” The jury leaves, then Costello, after another sustained objection, Costello rolls his eyes, lets out an audible sigh, side-glances the judge. The judge says, “I want to discuss proper decorum in my courtroom.” The judge says, “You don’t give me a side eye, and you don’t roll your eyes. If you don’t like my ruling, you don’t say ‘geez,’ you don’t say, ‘strike it.’ “Costello holds a long stare at the judge. The judge asks, “Are you staring me down?!” Then the judge says, “Clear the courtroom!”

After several minutes, reporters and gallery members were allowed back in the courtroom.

“Have you ever seen anything like this?” Tapper asked Reid.

“No, this is unbelievable and I know Bob Costello quite well,” Reid said before suggesting that Costello was probably “posturing” in order to get Trump’s approval.

Watch the clip above via CNN.