Judge warns Trump's defense team 'losing all credibility' amid gag order proceedings

Former President Trump's legal team attempted to justify Trump's alleged gag order violations by arguing they only came in response to attacks by witnesses Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels on Tuesday.

When Judge Juan Merchan asked for specific examples of what attacks Trump was responding to, however, attorney Todd Blanche could not identify one. The latest exchange in the New York vs. Trump trial left Merchan visibly annoyed, warning Blanche that we was "losing all credibility with the court."

Blanche objected, saying the prosecution had taken as much time as they desired to discuss the gag order violations earlier that morning.

"They were answering my questions," Merchan responded.

"[The DA's office] has presented 10 exhibits and the defense has presented nothing," he continued. "I’ve asked you eight or nine times, ‘show me the exact post that he was responding to’ and you haven’t been able to do that once."

Blanche had attempted to justify some of Trump's other alleged gag order violations by arguing that they were political in nature and that he could not be expected to remain silent as a presidential candidate. He also said situations where Trump is merely reposting an article from a third party, such as a news outlet, cannot constitute a violation.

Merchan objected to that line of argument, however, asking how such an article would appear on Trump's account without Trump approving it.

“It’s your client’s position that when he was reposting these things, he was not violating the gag order?" Merchan asked.