The New York Times' Maggie Haberman is among the many journalists who is covering the criminal trial in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr.'s hush money case. The day the trial opened, April 15, Haberman reported that Trump "appears to be sleeping" in the courtroom.
Haberman wrote, "Trump appears to be sleeping. His head keeps dropping down and his mouth goes slack."
Later on, the Times reporter wrote, "Trump appears to be sleeping. His head keeps dropping down and his mouth goes slack."
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Trump is facing trial while running his 2024 presidential campaign. Justice Juan Merchan, the judge in the case, let Trump know that he expects him to be physically present during the trial.
According to Lisa Rubin and Laura Jarrett of NBC News, Merchan told Trump a warrant will be issued for his arrest if he misses court without offering a reason.
Merchan, Rubin and Jarrett report, told Trump, "You have the right to be present in court at any proceeding including, in particular, a hearing and trial. Do you understand? However, by your conduct, you can waive, give up, forfeit, or lose that right to be present."
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The judge also told Trump, "If you deliberately refuse to come to court when required, or in any way deliberately obstruct or interfere with the effort to bring you to court, then, any proceeding in your case, including hearing, trial and, if you are convicted, sentence, can and will continue in your absence. Do you understand?"
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