NEW YORK (AP) A defense witness in Donald Trump s hush money case whom the judge threatened to remove from the trial over his behavior will return to the stand Tuesday as the trial nears its end.

Trumps lawyers are hoping Robert Costellos testimony will help undermine the credibility of a key prosecution witness, Trump fixer-turned-foe Michael Cohen.

But Costello angered Judge Juan Merchan on Monday by making comments under his breath, rolling his eyes and calling the whole exercise ridiculous, prompting the judge to briefly kick reporters out of the courtroom to admonish him.

The judge told Costello, a former federal prosecutor, he was being contemptuous, adding, If you try to stare me down one more time, I will remove you from the stand, according to a court transcript.

Costello didnt immediately respond to a request for comment Monday from The Associated Press.