The hearing scheduled for Monday in New York in a writer's libel trial against Donald Trump was postponed, one of the jurors was unwell and showing symptoms of Covid, an AFP journalist at the scene noted.
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Former US President and absolute favorite in the Republican primaries, Donald Trump, arrived at the federal courthouse in Manhattan early this morning to attend the hearing.
On the eve of voting for the New Hampshire state primary, Donald Trump would likely testify to defend himself in the courtroom against former Elle magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll, who has already had him convicted in a civil case in 2023 on 5 Millions in damages for sexual assault in 1996 and for the first time for defamation.
But Judge Lewis Kaplan postponed the hearing because one of the jurors had Covid symptoms and was sent home. A lawyer for Donald Trump, Alina Habba, also said she had symptoms of the virus, although her test was negative.
Despite the first resounding verdict, handed down unanimously by a popular jury in May 2023, Donald Trump continued to denigrate and insult the writer he called “crazy” with a “false story” that he “never wrote in (his). ) has seen ) life”.
The second lawsuit is based on a defamation lawsuit filed by E. Jean Carroll for statements made by Donald Trump in June 2019 when she first accused him of rape in a book.
The then-President of the United States claimed that the woman, who was “not his type,” had made it all up to “sell a new book.” The proceedings had been delayed, but this second trial continued and opened last week.
E. Jean Carroll is seeking more than $10 million in moral and professional damages.