Special counsel Mueller’s former top prosecutor said Wednesday he has deep respect for the judge presiding over former President Trump’s hush money trial in New York City.
“As you pointed out about Judge Marchan, I mean, I have a kind of ‘man crush’ on him right now,” MSNBC legal analyst Andrew Weissman said. “He’s such a great judge that it’s impossible for the jury not to have the same impression.”
Wiseman went on to praise Judge Juan Merchan.
“If you look up ‘judicial temperament’ in the dictionary, this is what you get. And remember that he had to endure a defendant who committed 10 acts of contempt, who not only threatened him but his family as well. And yet you don’t think for a second that it’s weighing on him in any way, because this is just an impeccably fair trial,” he said.
Andrew Weissmann, the lead prosecutor in the Russia investigation, has admitted to having a “manly admiration” for the judge presiding over President Trump’s hush money trial.
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The jury began deliberations Wednesday after Marchand instructed them on the case. Trump has been indicted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on 34 counts of first-degree falsifying business records. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Andrea Mitchell, speaking for NBC News’ Laura Jarrett, who was in the courtroom, summarized the judge as coming across as very calm, speaking “very calmly, slowly and carefully” even when scolding the defense and prosecutors.
“Exactly, and that’s why I wish there was at least audio,” Weissman said.
He later added: “One of the most striking things was hearing Judge Marchan’s voice. It’s going to be very helpful to hear that voice now, in a time when there’s so much distrust in the justice system because of Donald Trump and others, because that’s what struck me in the first place.”
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Weissmann served on special counsel Robert Mueller’s team investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
The investigation looked into alleged collusion between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia, but special counsel Mueller did not find sufficient evidence to link the two.
Fox News’ Houston Keene contributed to this report.
