Trump’s legal team recently requested a one-week delay in an ongoing trial to attend the funeral of Melania Trump’s mother. In response, Carroll’s attorney, Kaplan, pointed out a conflicting campaign event scheduled for the same day. Kaplan raised concerns about the lack of transparency regarding Trump’s commitments in their request.
In a letter addressed to U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Carroll’s lawyer stressed the importance of including information about Trump’s campaign event when requesting postponement. Trump had previously expressed his commitment to attending all his legal battles in person, further highlighting the significance of his presence in this trial.
Following the passing of his mother-in-law, Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, requested the trial’s postponement, citing the need for Trump to support his family and attend the funeral. Habba emphasized the emotional weight of the situation and requested a minor accommodation during this difficult time.
However, Judge Kaplan ultimately denied the motion to adjourn the trial, a decision that Trump criticized on social media. Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with the judge’s refusal to postpone the trial despite the circumstances surrounding his mother-in-law’s funeral.
Judge Kaplan explained the rationale behind his decision, citing potential inconveniences for jurors, counsel, court staff, and security arrangements if the trial were delayed. However, he did provide a provision that would allow for a pause in the trial if Trump’s defense team concludes their case, excluding Trump’s testimony, by Thursday. This would enable Trump to attend the funeral before proceeding with his testimony.
The trial in question aims to establish the amount of defamation damages owed by Trump after a jury previously found him guilty of sexually abusing Carroll. This trial holds significant importance in the ongoing legal battle involving the former president.
