Former President Donald Trump's hopes of winning the trial against E. Jean Carroll and his 2024 campaign have been potentially hindered due to a COVID-19 scare, according to former federal and state prosecutor Elie Honig. The trial, overseen by U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, was disrupted when one of the jurors fell ill with COVID-19 symptoms and required testing.

Trump's lead attorney, Alina Habba, requested a one-day adjournment after feeling unwell following a meeting with her parents, who had potentially been exposed to the virus. Although Habba's parents tested negative, she asked for the trial to be postponed until all jurors could be present. Initially, Kaplan rescheduled the proceedings for the same day as the New Hampshire Republican primary, but later agreed to Habba's plea for a delay until Wednesday morning.

The timing of the trial postponement has deprived Trump of the opportunity to make a political speech before the primary race in New Hampshire, according to legal analyst Elie Honig. Honig explained that from a legal perspective, Trump's testimony is unnecessary, as he would only be allowed to speak on E. Jean Carroll's damages. Honig questioned Trump's knowledge regarding Carroll's reputation or career and suggested that any effort by Trump to testify would likely be politically motivated.

Carroll's civil trial against Trump, which concluded in May 2023, found the former president liable for sexually abusing and defaming her, resulting in a $5 million award. In her defamation lawsuit seeking $10 million in damages, Carroll accuses Trump of denying he sexually assaulted her in a New York City store in the 1990s.

Despite the potential for Trump to testify, Honig believes it would be brief and restricted by Judge Kaplan. The trial now solely focuses on the question of damages, with the judge having already set strict parameters. Honig emphasized that Trump's testimony would not challenge the previous decisions regarding sexual assault and defamation.

An additional setback for Trump was the absence of one juror on Monday. Honig stated that a unanimous verdict is required, and proceeding with fewer than the required number of jurors may result in a hung jury. Honig suggested that Trump's legal team would want as many jurors as possible to increase the likelihood of a favorable outcome.

The impact of the trial delay and potential shortening of Trump's testimony raises uncertainties for both the trial and his future political aspirations. As the case progresses, it remains to be seen how these factors will shape the final outcome and potential implications for Trump's 2024 campaign.

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