Judge Juan Merchan apologized to prospective jurors in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial over the courtroom’s cold temperature.
Topline
Former President Donald Trump lamented Thursday that the New York courtroom is “freezing” during the third day of jury selection in his criminal hush money trial, with lawyers also complaining about the temperature—just three days after the 2024 GOP nominee went viral for appearing to doze off, according to reporters in the courtroom.Key Facts
Trump, who faces 34 felony counts for allegedly falsifying business documents over hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels, asked a pool of reporters in the Manhattan courtroom if it was “cold enough for you?” Thursday.
Trump attorney Todd Blanche also asked court staff if the thermostat in the building could be turned up “just one degree,” according to a pool report—Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the trial, responded that a one-degree increase would likely mean the room’s temperature shoots up 30 degrees.
