Judge Juan Merchan slammed former President Trump’s defense attorneys Friday for challenging each of his decisions during the first week of the historic criminal trial.
Merchan chastised Trump attorneys for filing pre-motion letters to challenge his rulings, and firmly stated that the trial would begin Monday with opening arguments.
Merchan said Trump’s lawyers cannot continue to submit pre-motion letters for the court to reconsider every decision.
“The defense is literally targeting every singe decision…There comes a point where you have to accept my rulings. The court’s decision is clear,” Merchan said. “We’re going to have opening statements on Monday morning. This trial is starting.”
Trump attorney Susan Necheles asked prosecutors to give the names of the witnesses they expect to call next week.
Merchan fired back saying: “Whether you get the name or not, you’re not going to delay the trial.”
Bragg’s office said unless they are ordered to, they will not share witness names with Trump’s defense. Prosecutors said they would agree to release one name to defense counsel Sunday night. They also warned that if Trump tweets or posts on social media about the name of the witness, they will not share the information with them for the remainder of the trial.
Before Merchan left the bench, former President Trump attempted to stand up.
“Sir, can you please have a seat?” Merchan said to the former president.
Trump sat back down.
Former President Trump said Friday that keeping him confined to a courtroom is “the only way” Democrats “think they can win” the 2024 election.
But the presumptive Republican presidential nominee declared that “it’s not going to work.”
Trump spoke to the press after the sitting in court for the fourth day of his criminal trial.
“This is really a concerted witch hunt very simple. Everything you heard in there, this is a witch hunt by your worst judges, Democrat judges. You take a look at it,” Trump said.
Trump said there are “violent criminals all over the streets of New York” and said “nothing” happens.
Trump also railed against judges who have ruled against him in civil cases, like New York Judge Arthur Engoron, who ruled Trump was liable for fraud after a lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Trump has appealed the decision. Trump called Engoron “a whack job.”
Trump also blasted federal Judge Kaplan, based in New York, who ruled he had to pay tens of millions of dollars to E. Jean Carroll for defamation earlier this year.
“What’s happening here with the judicial system is an outrage and all over the world they’re watching it. And all over the world they’re seeing it,” Trump said. “This is a giant witch hunt to try and hurt a campaign that’s beating the worst president in history.”
Trump blasted Biden, saying he “is the worst president in the history of our country,” and said he is “beating him by a lot” in the polls.
“And this is the only way they think they can win,” Trump said. “But it’s not going to work.”