E. Jean Carroll trial postponed over illness after Trump’s courthouse arrival

Senior U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan postponed Monday’s E. Jean Carroll defamation trial during which Donald Trump had said he was going to testify, after one of the jurors and Trump attorney Alina Habba both reported feeling ill. Habba noted she may have been exposed to COVID as both her parents have tested positive but she said she has tested negative.

MSNBC legal analyst and anchor Katie Phang reported Donald Trump was standing in between Habba and another of his attorneys, and “none of the three is wearing a mask,” according to her on-site producer.

The Messenger reported the juror has “a fever and nausea,” and that Judge Kaplan “instructed the juror to go home and take a COVID-19 test.”

Habba also has a fever.

“When he was walking out, Trump, wearing a scowl on his face, knocked the last bench in the gallery of the courtroom twice with a closed fist,” The Messenger added. “Citing the New Hampshire primary, Habba asked to delay Trump’s testimony until Wednesday, but Carroll’s counsel opposed that request.”

The jury trial is to determine damages Donald Trump must pay to E. Jean Carroll for defamation. Carroll is asking for $10 million.