Hearing about to resume
After about a 45-minute break, Trump returned to the courtroom followed by Blanche, Necheles and other members of his legal team, and took his seat at the defense table. The proceedings are about to get back underway.
Lack of electrical outlets has reporters powering down their laptops during break
While laptops are allowed inside the courtroom, there aren’t any outlets, leaving reporters without the ability to keep their laptops charged.
During this break, some reporters have powered them down, while others are hoping the hearing won’t go for too much longer after the proceedings resume.
In victory for Trump, appeals court reduces bond in his civil fraud case and gives him more time
An appeals court today handed Trump a major victory, reducing the bond required for his civil fraud verdict and giving him 10 more days to post it. He now has 10 days to pay a $175 million bond, rather than having to pay nearly $500 million by today.
The decision also stayed the ban on Trump and some of his family members serving on the board of companies.
They did not grant requests from Trump to prohibit the independent monitor or installing an independent director of compliance.
Judge: 'It's odd that we're even here'
Merchan lays out his central issue with the defense's argument. He says Trump's lawyers are interpreting the facts differently than he is. Trump's lawyers have said that the prosecutors aren't doing enough but the judge says he sees them "going above and beyond."
"It's odd that we’re even here, that we’ve taken this time," he says.
The court is out on a 45-minute break
The court is out on a 45-minute recess. Trump and his team have left the courtroom.
Judge shoots down Trump lawyer's argument that prosecutors obstructed
Merchan chided Blanche for the way he described document production by the Manhattan prosecutors.
“If the people know that something you request would be in violation of federal law, what you’re saying is that the people shouldn’t do anything?” Merchan asked. “They’re a law enforcement agency, are they supposed to stick their head in the sand and ignore it?”
Blanche said the prosecutors should have told the U.S. attorney's office that they knew the office had key evidence involving one of the prosecutors' witnesses.
Merchan told Blanche that he's accusing the DA's office of obstruction, and the judge says that's not what happened.
Trump looks mad as he leaves the courtroom
Trump looks angry, his brow furrowed as he exits the courtroom.
Judge suspicious of defense's efforts to delay the trial
The subtext of this entire hearing has been Judge Merchan appearing highly suspicious of the defense team’s effort to delay this trial. He’s pressing Blanche to now explain why he waited until January to request documents he likely knew existed last spring. He’s even brought up Blanche’s past experience in the U.S. attorney’s office in New York to highlight that he should know the diligence that’s required.
“Why did you wait until two months before trial? Why didn’t you do it in June or July?" Merchan asks.
"It’s not our job," says Blanche. Merchan shoots back that it's not the DA's job either.
Exasperated with Trump's team, judge says they are accusing DA's office of 'prosecutorial misconduct'
Merchan, uncharacteristically furious, gets stern with Trump’s team and says, “That you don’t have a case right now is really disconcerting.”
“You are literally accusing the Manhattan DA’s office and the people assigned to this case of prosecutorial misconduct," the judge said.
Merchan added that Trump's team doesn't have a single example to support that allegation.
Trump whispers to lawyers
Trump is whispering to Necheles and Bove. Necheles appears to have handed over a note.
Bove looked like he was trying to get Blanche’s attention, who is now addressing the judge.