Donald Trump's Trial Suddenly Halted Because of COVID

Testimony in former President Donald Trump's defamation trial brought by E. Jean Carroll was postponed for a day because of COVID-19 concerns.

Before proceedings began Monday, Alina Habba, Trump's lawyer, asked Judge Lewis Kaplan, who is overseeing the trial, for a one-day adjournment when she said she wasn't feeling well after one or both of her parents were exposed to COVID.

Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, faces a second defamation trial Carroll, a former Elle columnist, that began last Tuesday and will determine how much Trump owes in damages.

A civil trial that concluded last May found that Trump was liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll, who ultimately was rewarded $5 million. The accusation of defamation against Trump follows his denial that he sexually assaulted her at a Bergdorf Goodman department store in the 1990s in New York City. In 2019, he said Carroll was "not my type," suggesting she made up the allegation. In this lawsuit, Carroll is seeking $10 million in damages.

Newsweek has reached out to Habba's office via email for comment.

The trial is scheduled to resume Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. ET.

In addition to Habba, one juror has been feeling sick and is being tested for COVID-19, according to NBC News.

Adam Klasfeld, senior legal correspondent at The Messenger, wrote about the pause in proceedings on X as he was reporting from the courtroom.

"Alina Habba's parents were exposed to COVID, but she tested negative," he wrote. "She has asked for a daylong adjournment. Judge Kaplan grants the request."

Habba previously requested that Kaplan postpone the trial because of the death of Trump's mother-in-law as he said he would be traveling to attend the funeral. Kaplan denied the request and said that while the court "offers its condolences" to the Trump family, the trial would continue as scheduled.

Habba faced a tense courtroom exchange with Kaplan last week after she continued to ask for an adjournment so Trump could attend the funeral. Kaplan denied the application.

During last Wednesday's proceedings, Kaplan threatened to remove Trump from the court after he repeatedly and loudly spoke with his lawyers while Carroll was on the witness stand. The former president had to be repeatedly told by the judge to keep his voice down as he was heard dismissing the allegations against him as a "con" and a "witch hunt" while Carroll was testifying.

Carroll's team was expected to wrap up her case Monday afternoon with testimony from former Elle Editor-in-Chief Robbie Myers.

Update 1/22/24, 11:10 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.