By CNN's Lauren del Valle and Jeremy Herb in court
Judge Juan Merchan issued a stern warning to Donald Trump for his reaction to a juror in the courtroom. But it was just that, for now — a warning — not to do it again.
The judge said earlier in court that Trump was gesturing and audibly speaking in the direction of the potential juror who was being questioned.
"I will not have any jurors intimidated in the courtroom," he said after the juror left the court.
Former President Donald Trump's attorney Todd Blanche is now challenging another potential juror.
Trump's team found social media posts from the juror referencing Trump that say, “Get him out” and “Lock him up."
Judge Juan Merchan denied the defense team's challenge for cause.
"Juror No. 1 is denied, who's your next?" he told Trump lawyer Todd Blanche.
Blanche responded: "Juror No. 2."
What this means: Trump's attorneys are seeking to have some potential jurors dismissed for cause — which, if successful, means they would not have to use one of their 10 strikes.
Judge Juan Merchan says he does not want people on the jury who lie or mislead, and that's why he brought the potential juror in to have her explain the Facebook posts. He says she "provided what I believe were reasonable explanations for both."
"That juror looked me right in the eye and when she said she could be very impartial, she meant it," Merchan says, adding that the juror is credible.
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass is fighting the defense's motion to dismiss the potential juror on cause.
"I fail to see how posting a video of other people celebrating, and even indicating a favorable view of other people celebrating, implicates this juror's" ability to be fair, Steinglass argued.
Judge Juan Merchan told Donald Trump's attorney Todd Blanche to speak to his client after saying the former president was gesturing at a potential juror during questioning.
The judge raised his voice as he spoke to Trump's attorney.
Blanche moved on from the admonishment and continued arguing about the juror.
Donald Trump was gesturing and audibly speaking in the direction of the potential juror who was being questioned, Judge Juan Merchan said after the juror left the courtroom.
"Your client was audibly uttering," he told Trump's lawyers. "I will not have any jurors intimidated in the courtroom."
Former President Donald Trump's attorney Todd Blanche asked a prospective juror about her caption on a Facebook video depicting people celebrating during the 2020 election.
The caption read: "You had to get in the car to spread the honking cheer. it's a full on dance party at 96th street," according to Blanche.
The juror says that she understands the questions here are about bias and implicit bias.
"I very, very strongly believe that regardless of my thoughts about anyone or anything political, feelings or convictions, that the job of a juror is to understand the facts of a trial and to be the judge of those facts," the juror said.
The potential juror said a Facebook video of people celebrating after the 2020 election that is being reviewed "was just a New York celebratory moment."
"I think I went to the car to alternate side parking or something like that and there were people dancing in the street and stuff," she said.
