Judge Arthur Engoron suggested he could enact “severe sanctions” against Donald Trump after the former president appeared to make a reference to Engoron’s clerk in violation of the gag order banning discussion of the judge's staff.

During a break in the trial, Trump told reporters outside the courtroom, “This judge is a very partisan judge with a person who is very partisan sitting alongside him -- perhaps even much more partisan than he is."

When the court session resumed, Engoron said that Trump’s comments had been brought to his attention and said that he had put the gag order in place following Trump’s posting “defamatory, disparaging, completely untrue statements about the law clerk sitting to my right.”

“I don’t want anyone killed,” he said. 

Engoron levied a $5,000 fine against Trump last week after his social media post that led to the gag order being inadvertently left on his website.

“This recent statement obviously was intentional,” Engoron said. "Why should there not be severe sanctions for this blatant dangerous disobeyal of a clear court order?"

Trump lawyer Chris Kise claimed that Trump was talking about Michael Cohen, not the clerk, noting Cohen was also sitting next to Engoron in the witness box.

“He’s tired of listening to what he’s hearing. And it's very partisan,” Kise said. "We’re certainly well aware of the order, so that's the way I took the statement and I believe that's the way it was intended.” 

Engoron asked," Can we ask Mr. Trump what he meant?"

Before Trump could speak, Kise answered for his client, saying he asked Trump as much and he said he was referring to Cohen.

The judge said he'd take Kise’s explanation under advisement for now. "It seemed clear to me, but I understand it could be interpreted other ways. I’ll take the whole matter under advisement."