Donald Trump‘s mother-in-law dying is not a sufficient reason to delay closing arguments in a civil business fraud trial in New York, a judge told the former president’s attorney on Wednesday.
An email chain shows the lawyer, Chris Kise, raising the issue in the middle of a conversation about establishing the grounds by which Trump could deliver his own closing argument on Thursday.
“I am sad to advise the Court that Mrs. Trump’s mother passed away this evening,” Kise said, alluding to the death of former first lady Melania Trump’s 78-year-old mother Amalija Knavs on Tuesday.
“Because of the challenges presented by this deeply personal family matter, President Trump has asked that I request the Court postpone the date for closing argument until on or after January 29, 2024, so that he may attend and participate in the Court proceedings,” Kise added.
Judge Arthur Engoron, who is presiding over the case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, issued a reply Wednesday morning expressing his condolences but declaring that he would not approve a delay.
“I’m sure you realize, although you may not realize to what extent, that every appearance of Mr. Trump requires court officers, court clerks, administrators, security details, technical people, etc. to rearrange their schedules and to plan for the day,” Engoron said.
“The administration even had to ‘evict’ the jury trial currently taking place in Room 300 for tomorrow. Of course, I am also anxious to hear a full day of closing statements as I consider the case as a whole. On balance, going forward makes the most sense. Please tell Mr. Trump that I am sorry,” the judge continued.
Kise replied by saying, “Despite the fact that his Mother-in Law, who he was very close to, passed away late last night, President Trump will be speaking tomorrow.”
However, Kise did not appear to have accepted Engoron’s demands that Trump agree to certain limitations such as barring the former president from impugning any of the participants at the trial or delivering a “campaign speech.” As indicated in the emails, Trump’s attorneys did not meet the repeatedly extended deadline for a response.
“Not having heard from you by the third extended deadline (noon today), I assume that Mr. Trump will not agree to the reasonable, lawful limits I have imposed as a precondition to giving a closing statement above and beyond those given by his attorneys, and that, therefore, he will not be speaking in court tomorrow,” Engoron said.