One of the weird things about the 2020s is that disease got politicized — specifically, COVID. Contrary to self interest, at the height of the pandemic it became a badge of honor in right-wing media to downplay the risks of the deadly virus. And that hasn’t changed the longer COVID hangs around.
So it’s a little surprising to hear MAGA standard bearers — as in, Donald Trump’s legal team in the New York fraud trial — making a big deal about COVID. That is until you realize they used it in an attempt to delay the trial, which, you’ll recall, isn’t going great for him, with the corporate “death penalty” on the table.
Earlier this week, Trump attorney Chris Kise requested a trial delay, as members of the Attorney General’s legal team tested positive for COVID. As reported by the Daily Beast:
Kise said he was sitting away from the AG’s table Tuesday to avoid catching COVID and complained about his opponents’ lack of notification, saying that “the leading candidate for president of the United States in this courtroom today,” and griping “I don’t think we should really be here today.” Another Trump lawyer, Alina Habba, said she did not want to use the same microphone as the AG’s office.
The AG’s office noted they followed all CDC guidelines for isolating, testing, and masking.
Judge Arthur Engoron denied the request, wryly noting, “Masks are available. We are going to proceed.” No one on Team Trump donned a mask, which… pretty much tells you everything you need to know.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.
