Trump's Legal Team Denied Delay of NY Civil Fraud Trial Over COVID-19 Concerns

Former President Donald Trump's lawyers sought to delay his civil fraud trial after four members of the prosecution's team "tested positive for COVID-19," but were denied, RadarOnline.com has learned.

Judge Arthur Engoron previously found the embattled GOP frontrunner liable for the fraud in a summary ruling after determining that Trump and his family business fraudulently inflated the value of his properties and other assets.

The proceedings up ahead will determine penalties.

"He is sitting further away from the AG's table because he is concerned about exposure," detailed Politico legal reporter Erica Orden, who was on-site in the courtroom. "He's railing against the AG's lack of notification about exposures."

As we previously reported, New York Attorney General Letitia James is pursuing a $250 million fine while striving to bar Trump and his adult sons from doing business in the state of New York.

"We have the leading candidate for president of the United States in this courtroom today," Orden quoted Trump lawyer Chris Kise saying to the judge, suggesting "I don't think we should really be here today" due to potential COVID exposure.

Orden said Kise then pushed to officially postpone proceedings. "Another Trump lawyer says a member of their team tested positive and another member of the AG's team tested positive this morning."

A spokesperson for the AG's office says it has followed CDC guidelines and ultimately, "the court decided to proceed with trial today. If there were any concerns, defendants' could wear masks today or at any point, but they have opted not to."

Orden reported that Trump refused to make eye contact when his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen entered the courtroom and walked to the witness stand to testify against him.

Cohen alleged that when he and former Trump Org. CFO Allen Weisselberg would show Trump his financial statements, "he would look at the total assets and say, 'I'm actually not worth $4.5 billion. I am really worth more like $6 billion.'"

"He would ask Allen and I to go back to the office and return with the desired goal," Cohen said.

Trump's son, Eric, repeatedly shook his head in disgust during Cohen's testimony about him and his siblings, NBC News reported. Meanwhile, Trump had his arms crossed, also shaking his head, according to Orden, who stated he looked "red in the face."

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Today, Trump's attorneys filed a notice of appeal after the judge's $7,500 sanction last month, asking a state appellate court to reverse the judgment.