A New York judge scolded former U.S. President Donald Trump at his criminal trial on Tuesday when Trump was audibly dismissive of a prospective juror's explanation of why she videotaped a street celebration of Trump's 2020 reelection loss.
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New York County Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan reprimanded Trump after his defense lawyer, Todd Blanche, unsuccessfully sought to remove the woman from being included on the jury because she had posted the street scene video on social media.
Merchan told Blanche to explain to the defendant that "I will not tolerate that. I will not have any jurors intimidated in this courtroom."
Then, after the would-be juror left the courtroom, Merchan rebuked Trump for his behavior. Merchan said Trump was "audibly uttering something" and "gesturing" and "speaking in her direction."
The woman told Merchan she recalled seeing people dancing in the street as President Joe Biden defeated Trump and described it as a "celebratory moment in New York City." The woman said if she is seated on the jury, she would not let the 2020 moment affect her judgment.
"I very, very strongly believe that regardless of my thoughts about anyone or anything or my political feelings, the job of juror is to understand the facts of the trial and be the judge of the facts." she said.
The woman noted that on Monday, "people walked out because they thought they couldn't" judge the case fairly. "I don't believe that about myself at all."