'Do it properly': Judge orders Trump lawyer to clean up mess left by questioning

Manhattan Criminal Court — The judge overseeing Donald Trump's criminal hush money case told the former president's lead attorney Thursday that if he could not clean up his own cross-examination mess, the prosecutors will do it for him.

Todd Blanche's rocky start in his second day facing off against Michael Cohen, Trump's former fixer and the star witness in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's case, included questions about the unsealing of the indictment on March 30, 2023.

That indictment accuses Trump of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The former president has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors issued a swift objection, spurring Judge Juan Merchan to summon lawyers to the bench. Merchan sustained the objection but raised the issue again less than two hours later while the jury was on a break.

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Prosecutors again raised concerns regarding Blanche's questions about Cohen's conversations with Det. Jeremy Rosenberg, an interview with MSNBC host Joy Reid and the Times' report on the unsealed indictment in the hush money case.

"[Blanche] clearly left the impression to the jury that there was something improper," argued prosecutor Josh Steinglass.

Merchan agreed.

"I certainly think the jury should be advised," said Merchan, then addressed Blanche. "The question is how."

Blanche professed himself willing to clarify any misconception, but Merchan seemed unwilling to take Blanche's capacity on trust.

"Why don’t we see if you’re able to address it," Merchan told Blanche. "If you’re unable to do it properly, the prosecution can do it on readdress."

When prosecutors again raised concerns about the misleading nature of Blanche's questions, Merchan added to Blanche, "Try to clean it up yourself."