Donald Trump looked increasingly frustrated that Justice Juan Merchan was so critical of his lawyer Todd Blanche’s arguments.
At a hearing to ostensibly determine whether prosecutors engaged in misconduct, the judge sounded far more concerned that the former president’s legal team was making scurrilous and unfounded accusations.
Merchan told Blanche that the latest dispute fit what he called “a pattern where I read certain information, and then I hear your interpretation of that and it’s really different from my interpretation. And this has been frankly going on for months.”
Far from prosecutorial misconduct involving potential evidence, Merchan said prosecutors were doing their best to be careful and thorough with their handling of that material.
The Manhattan district attorney “went so far above and beyond what they’re required to do, it’s really odd that we’re even here and that we’re taking this time,” Merchan said.
With that, he called for a 45-minute recess.
At a hearing to ostensibly determine whether prosecutors engaged in misconduct, the judge sounded far more concerned that the former president’s legal team was making scurrilous and unfounded accusations.
Merchan told Blanche that the latest dispute fit what he called “a pattern where I read certain information, and then I hear your interpretation of that and it’s really different from my interpretation. And this has been frankly going on for months.”
Far from prosecutorial misconduct involving potential evidence, Merchan said prosecutors were doing their best to be careful and thorough with their handling of that material.
The Manhattan district attorney “went so far above and beyond what they’re required to do, it’s really odd that we’re even here and that we’re taking this time,” Merchan said.
With that, he called for a 45-minute recess.
