A High-Stress Countdown Begins

For many Americans, the Memorial Day break will mean barbecues, flag-draped parades and the glory of a three-day weekend. But for those centrally involved in the criminal trial of Donald Trump — including the defendant — it will be an anxious countdown to the culmination of the first trial of an American president.

The prosecution rested today, after 15 days of testimony and 20 witnesses — including an intense four days on the stand for Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and fixer. That was followed by a sharp confrontation between the judge, Juan Merchan, and a defense witness, Robert Costello, a lawyer who consulted with Cohen.

Costello said he and Cohen spoke after the F.B.I. raided Cohen’s home in April 2018 and that Cohen told him that Trump “knew nothing” about the payments to a porn star at the center of the case. He added that Cohen said “that he did this on his own, and he repeated this numerous times.”

But Costello’s testimony was overshadowed by his behavior, which included saying “Jeez,” after a objection by prosecutors, one of many. Merchan sent the jury away and then scolded Costello for not displaying “proper decorum” in the courtroom and giving him “side eye.”

After a moment, Merchan then cleared reporters from the courtroom to continue to reprimand Costello — a dramatic step that put the defense on notice about controlling their witness, who is expected back tomorrow morning.

Merchan’s move put a tense cap on a gear-grinding day in which stops and starts and scheduling dominated. The judge had already decided that closing arguments would not occur until next Tuesday, the day after Memorial Day.