Former President Donald Trump is on trial in New York City for alleged hush money payments made by his attorney to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. And while the actual charges, falsifying business records, don’t exactly leap off the page — so far, the trial has been anything but boring.
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This is the first criminal trial of a former U.S. President, and Trump isn’t exactly the most mild-mannered defendant. So, understandably, all eyes were on his behavior in court, and things are going about as well as could be expected.
On Tuesday, New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan called Trump out for his actions in the courtroom. “He was audibly gesturing, speaking in the direction of the juror,” said Judge Merchan, implying that this could be seen as juror intimidation. “I won’t tolerate that.”
That was hardly the most bizarre allegation made about Trump’s courtroom behavior. On Monday night, comedian Jimmy Kimmel joked about rumors that Trump was profusely farting while in court.
“I cannot in good conscience report that Trump was pumping gas like a Barstow Texaco,” said the late-night host on Jimmy Kimmel Live, “but I can report, to borrow a phrase he likes to use when spreading rumors, many people were saying, ‘Trump was farting in court.’”
To be clear, no journalists who were in court have reported this information.
However, last week, reporters noted that Trump appeared to be falling asleep during jury selection. He “appeared to nod off a few times, his mouth going slack and his head drooping onto his chest,” wrote New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman.
His antics in the courtroom aren’t the only thing people have been talking about. The former President has repeatedly flouted the gag order barring him from disparaging witnesses, court officials , and the Judge’s daughter.
Trump insisted that it would be a “great honor” to go to jail for violating the gag order — comparing himself to “Modern Day Nelson Mandela.” (Mandela was famously jailed for twenty-seven years for fighting against Apartheid. Trump, on the other hand, is facing fines for repeatedly attacking the witnesses, court officials, and their families in his criminal case on social media).
In theory, Trump could be jailed for up to 30 days for violating the gag order. But, experts agree that it would be highly unlikely for the Judge to incarcerate Trump while he’s once again running for the highest office in the land.
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