Assistant U.S. Attorney Uzo Asonye was delivering his opening statement in the trial of Paul Manafort, accusing the defendant of using “secret income” to finance an opulent lifestyle.

“He bought himself more than a half-million dollars in fancy clothes, a half-million dollars in rugs. He drove high-end vehicles,” the prosecutor told jurors. “He got whatever he wanted.”

A visibly annoyed U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis interjected. “Mr. Asonye, you might focus on elements of the offense,” the judge said, taking the unusual step of interrupting an attorney in an opening statement. “It isn’t a crime to have a lot of money and be profligate in your spending.”

The interjection set a tone that Judge Ellis has kept throughout the first week of Mr. Manafort’s trial on tax-and bank-fraud charges. He has consistently reined in prosecutors for special counsel Robert Mueller as they introduced evidence and forced them to focus on core allegations.

The results have been reflected in the trial schedule: Prosecutors by day two of the trial told the judge that they now expect to wrap up their case this week—five days ahead of schedule.