Less than 15 minutes into Costello’s testimony, the typically even-tempered judge appeared fed up with Costello’s behavior and sent the jury out.

Evidence

Fiery moment between judge, defense witness in Trump hush money trial (ABC News)

corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim
XREF: connects to: Ellis’s apparent stumble was mischaracterized by the prosecution. — Lynley Hood, A City Possessed, 2868; After sending reporters out of the courtroom, judge threatened to hold Robert Costello in contempt if the witness continued to stare at him. — Judge erupts in Trump hush money trial over witness …; Judge Merchan said ‘Sir, your conduct is contemptuous right now’ and cleared the courtroom to admonish Costello. — ‘Clear the courtroom:’ Judge explodes at Trump’s witness after prosecutors rest case at hush money trial (+3 more)

Judge Merchan accused Costello of exhibiting ‘contemptuous’ conduct and threatened to remove him from the stand if he tried to stare him down again. (similarity 0.93)
After sending reporters out of the courtroom, judge threatened to hold Robert Costello in contempt if the witness continued to stare at him. (similarity 0.93)
Judge Merchan said ‘Sir, your conduct is contemptuous right now’ and cleared the courtroom to admonish Costello. (similarity 0.92)
The judge briefly cleared the courtroom while he admonished the witness and threatened to kick him off the stand. (similarity 0.92)
Judge Merchan briefly booted the public after scolding defense witness Robert Costello. (similarity 0.91)
Robert Costello was called as a defense witness and quickly admonished by the judge for being contemptuous. (similarity 0.88)
Judge Juan Merchan asked the jurors to leave the courtroom so he could admonish Costello over his behavior on the stand. (similarity 0.87)
The judge in Donald Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial cleared the courtroom on Monday to reprimand a witness and ally of the former president. (similarity 0.82)
The prosecution rested its case and the defense called its first witness, Robert Costello. (similarity 0.79)
Costello’s fiery testimony made aspects of the prosecutors’ case even ‘stronger than it was,’ according to a retired state judge. (similarity 0.78)