Trump sex assault defamation trial postponed after juror calls in sick

The sex assault defamation trial of former President Donald Trump in New York was postponed Monday when a juror called in sick.

Trump's attorney Alina Habba told Judge Lewis Kaplan that she was also feeling feverish and that at least one of her parents had tested positive for Covid-19. Habba tested negative for the virus Monday morning, as did her co-counsel in the case, Michael Madaio, but Habba said her babysitter also has symptoms.

Kaplan called off the scheduled day of testimony after Trump and the plaintiff in the civil case, E. Jean Carroll, had both arrived at U.S. District Court in Manhattan. The judge made that decision after offering Habba the option of proceeding with eight jurors, but she declined to do so.

Despite that, Trump's ally, GOP House Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., later tweeted a response to news of the delay, calling it "blatant election interference!"

Trump, 77, and Carroll, 80, were in the courtroom when Kaplan said the trial would be postponed until Tuesday at the earliest. The postponement was extended later Monday to Wednesday.

Trump stood between Habba and Madaio, with none of them wearing a mask, as Kaplan agreed to the postponement.

The judge then brought in the remaining jurors to explain the delay.

After the jurors were excused, Habba told Kaplan that she wanted to call Trump as a witness on Wednesday.

"Tomorrow is the New Hampshire primary, and I ask that his testimony be Wednesday," Habba said.

Trump is the Republican front-runner in that presidential primary and in the overall GOP nomination contest, with only former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley remaining as a serious contender after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis dropped out of the race Sunday.

Carroll's lawyer Robert Kaplan, who is not related to the judge, objected to delaying the trial beyond Tuesday.

"We would like to get this trial over," said Roberta Kaplan. "I think we should finish tomorrow, Judge Kaplan."

The judge replied, "I'm not going to decide right now."

"Circumstances may end up with you getting what you asked for, or maybe not," he added.