In an unexpected turn of events, the trial for writer E. Jean Carroll’s civil defamation case against former U.S. President Donald Trump has been postponed. The presiding judge, Lewis Kaplan, made the decision to delay proceedings until Tuesday due to a juror feeling unwell and the revelation that one or more parents of Trump’s lead lawyer tested positive for COVID-19.
The courtroom drama unfolded as Judge Kaplan sent a juror home for a COVID test after they reported feeling hot and nauseous. Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, disclosed having developed a fever over the weekend after spending time with her parents on Friday. Although she and co-counsel Michael Madaio tested negative for COVID-19 on Monday, the potential risk prompted the judge to exercise caution.
Adding to the complexity, the court is now contemplating whether to allow Trump to testify on Wednesday, allowing the former president to attend New Hampshire’s Republican presidential primary on Tuesday. Habba requested the delay, but Carroll’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, unrelated to the judge, argued that her client’s case was nearly concluded and expressed a preference to possibly wrap up on Tuesday, with or without Trump’s testimony.
In a separate development, Trump’s request for a mistrial was denied by Judge Kaplan. The request stemmed from Carroll’s testimony that she had destroyed emailed death threats she received after initially accusing Trump of rape.
The crux of the trial revolves around determining the amount Trump should pay Carroll for defaming her in June 2019. This defamation claim arose when Trump vehemently denied allegations of raping Carroll in the mid-1990s in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that Carroll fabricated the incident to boost sales of her then-new memoir.
As the legal saga continues, these unexpected twists have injected additional suspense into an already closely watched case. The outcome remains uncertain, and the courtroom drama is poised to intensify in the coming days.
