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Former President Donald Trump's trial in New York City was thrown into disarray this week due to issues relating to positive COVID-19 tests among those in the courtroom.
On Tuesday, Trump appeared in court in New York City for his ongoing trial relating to allegations that he inflated his own net worth as well as illegally increasing the value of many of his properties, following a lawsuit by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
However, issues relating to COVID-19 arose on Tuesday after members of the Attorney General's team tested positive for the novel virus.
In a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, Lisa Rubin, a legal analyst for MSNBC, details how Trump's lawyer, Christopher Kise reacted to the news of positive COVID-19 tests.
"Because four members of the AG's team tested positive for COVID last week and Kise says no one on their team was notified until Saturday night. Kise says many people in the courtroom are vulnerable to COVID, including him," Rubin wrote on X. "He accuses the AG of dispensing with health protocols because 'nothing else matters, except pursuing President Trump.' And he says yet another member of the AG's staff tested positive this morning. He says it is 'hypocritical' for the AG to forge ahead while maintaining the health and safety of all New Yorkers is critical."
In addition to the case in New York, Trump is currently facing other legal issues, with a federal indictment in Washington, D.C., for alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election and another indictment in Florida for his alleged mishandling of classified documents. He has maintained his innocence in all cases.
According to Rubin, one member of Trump's legal team also tested positive for COVID-19. Judge Arthur Engoron said during the trial on Tuesday that masks were available to those who wanted them in order to allow the trial to proceed, Rubin reported.
Additionally, Trump's other lawyer Alina Habba requested a second microphone to speak during the trial and expressed concerns over not wanting to use a "contaminated" one, Rubin wrote.
"Relations are frayed: Solomon, visibly frustrated, notes the mic was provided by the AG's office and they are free to bring their own," Rubin said on X, referring to one lawyer from the New York Attorney General's office.
Prior to the trial on Tuesday, Trump's legal team filed several motions on Monday night seeking to have the charges dismissed claiming "selective prosecution," and criticizing President Joe Biden, claiming that he pressured the Department of Justice to take legal action against Trump.
Newsweek reached out to Trump's spokesperson and the New York Attorney General's Office via email for comment.
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About the writer
Matthew Impelli is a Newsweek staff writer based in New York. His focus is reporting social issues and crime. In ... Read more