After hearing from prosecutors and Donald Trump's attorneys, Judge Juan Merchan said he he is reserving a decision on the gag order violations.
The court is now in a short break.
Second day of testimony wraps in Trump hush money trial
From CNN's Jeremy Herb, Lauren del Valle and Kara Scannell in the courthouse
Updated 6:28 p.m. ET, April 23, 2024
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Judge says he is reserving decision on the gag order violations
Trump team should've given notice that former president was "thinking of reposting something," judge says
Judge Juan Merchan says that when attorney Todd Blanche claims Trump got "too close to the line" with reposts, they should have told him that "my client is thinking of reposting something."
After Blanche sat back down, he passed a note to Trump, who is reading it.
Trump whispers to lawyer after heated exchange with judge
Prosecutor Chris Conroy is now back at the microphone following defense attorney Todd Blanche's tense exchange with Judge Juan Merchan. Merchan grew exasperated as he repeatedly asked Blanche questions.
Donald Trump is now whispering to Blanche, who is seated beside him.
Merchan says Blanche has given him nothing to "hang his hat on" with reposts
In respect to reposts, Judge Juan Merchan said, "You're not giving me anything to hang my hat on to say, 'you're right, this was ambiguous.'"
"The court should make crystal clear what it means with the reposts,” Trump attorney Todd Blanche said, adding they didn't read the gag order the same way.
Trump lawyer to judge: "We are trying to comply"
"This gag order, we are trying to comply with it," Donald Trump attorney Todd Blanche said before Judge Juan Merchan.
"President Trump is being very careful to comply with your order," Blanche added.
"You're losing all credibility with the court," judge tells Trump attorney
Moving onto the post about the jury and Jesse Watters, Judge Juan Merchan asked: "Your client manipulated what was said and put it in quotes, am I right?"
"I wouldn’t use the word manipulation your honor," Donald Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche responded. "But the rest of the quote was not part of the quote."
Merchan said that Trump's post on the jury was not a repost.
"This is something that was said on TV and your client had to type it out. He had to sit there, use quotation marks, the shift key and type every thing out and then add those additional words," the judge said.
Blanche acknowledged that Trump's post about the jury was not a repost.
"You're losing all credibility with the court," Merchan told Blanche.
Judge wants to hear assertion under oath that Trump believed he wasn't violating gag order
Judge Juan Merchan said he wants to hear an assertion under oath that Donald Trump believed he wasn't violating the gag order when he made the posts in question.
Merchan said: "How do I know that’s his position? Are you testifying under oath that that’s his position?"
"I'm not testifying, I'm making argument," attorney Todd Blanche replies.
"It's your client's position that when he reposts, he did not believe he was violating the gag order. I’d like to hear that. Or you just want me to accept it because you’re saying it?" Merchan says to Blanche.
Trump works with a "group of folks" who find articles that they think his audience should read, attorney says
We're learning more about Trump's social media in today's gag order hearing.
Trump attorney Todd Blanche says Trump has a "group of folks" who work with the former president and find articles they think Trump's audience should read.
Judge says defense has not presented specific post Trump was responding to
“You’ve presented nothing," Judge Juan Merchan says to Trump attorney Todd Blanche. "I’ve asked you eight or nine times to show me the exact post he was responding to. You’ve been unable to do that even once."
