Trump's lawyers are hoping Robert Costello's testimony will help undermine the credibility of a key prosecution witness, Michael Cohen.
But Costello angered Judge Juan Merchan on Monday by making comments under his breath, rolling his eyes and calling the whole exercise “ridiculous," prompting the judge to briefly kick reporters out of the courtroom to admonish him.
The judge told Costello, a former federal prosecutor, he was being “contemptuous," adding, “If you try to stare me down one more time, I will remove you from the stand," according to a court transcript.
Costello didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Monday from The Associated Press.
The chaotic scene unfolded after prosecutors rested their case accusing Trump of falsifying business records as part of an effort to bury stories that he feared could hurt his 2016 campaign. The criminal trial, the first of a former U.S. president, is in the final stretch, with closing arguments expected the Tuesday after Memorial Day.
