Oath Keepers chief Stewart Rhodes exams constructive for Covid-19, delaying trial not less than a day

CNN
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The bold conspiracy trial towards members of the right-wing militia group Oath Keepers has been delayed after the group’s chief, Stewart Rhodes, examined constructive for Covid.

Choose Amit Mehta informed prosecutors and protection attorneys they’d reconvene on Tuesday to additional focus on the trial schedule. Mehta famous that the trial may very well be delayed till Rhodes, who’s at present in jail, has examined damaging or is now not exhibiting signs.

“Now I am positive everybody has heard the unwelcome information about Mr. Rhodes,” Mehta informed the court docket Monday. “The underside line is he is not right here right this moment and will not be right here for not less than the subsequent 5 days.”

The delay would push the Justice Division’s case – which is predicted to shut this weekend – to not less than every week if not longer and will create scheduling points with two high-profile hearings. different that Mehta had scheduled in November.

Rhodes’ attorneys say he’s being “in full isolation” in jail and has not been in a position to converse to him by telephone. Legal professional Phillip Linder informed Mehta that they hoped that Rhodes may attend court docket proceedings through Zoom, nevertheless it was unclear if the jail would be capable to accommodate that request.

In accordance with his lawyer, Rhodes was unwell over the weekend and examined constructive Monday morning. Everybody within the courtroom should put on a masks in the course of the trial, aside from witnesses or attorneys who query witnesses.

Final week, a member of the jury was fired after contracting Covid. On the time, Mehta mentioned that court docket employees would put together exams for jurors and attorneys every single day.