Judge Merchan Targets Trump Lawyer Over ‘Outrageous’ Comment

The judge overseeing former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York chided his attorney for a comment about the former president going to prison, as jury deliberations are slated to begin Wednesday.

Trump attorney Todd Blanche, during his closing arguments on Tuesday, told the jury that the former president could go to prison if they convicted him, noting that the conviction would be based on former associate Michael Cohen’s testimony. He made the comment after describing Mr. Cohen as a “liar” who “lied to” the jury.

“You cannot send somebody to prison, you cannot convict somebody based upon the words of Michael Cohen,” Mr. Blanche said.

Prosecutors objected to his comment, which Justice Juan Merchan sustained. He then said that he would provide curative instructions to the jury after they returned from a break.

“That was outrageous, Mr. Blanche,” Justice Merchan said. “Someone who’s been a prosecutor as long as you have, someone who’s been an attorney as long as you have knows that it’s highly inappropriate.”


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