Judge busts Trump lawyers for wanting COVID trial delay but refusing to wear masks

New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron rebuffed objections of attorneys for former President Donald Trump and ordered his $250 million fraud trial to continue despite concerns about COVID-19.

At the start of Tuesday's hearing, Trump lawyer Chris Kise announced that four members of the attorney general's office had contracted COVID-19.

"We have the leading candidate for president of the United States in this courtroom today," Kise said, according to Politico legal correspondent Erica Orden.

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Kise called the prosecution "irresponsible" for its handling of the potential contagion caused by outbreak.

"It seems that nothing else matters, except for pursuing President Trump," he griped.

But Engoron pushed back.

"As Judge Engoron notes, no one on the defense side is wearing a mask, even though they are free to," MSNBC analyst Lisa Rubin reported. "Louis Solomon, for the AG's side, masked, stands, and insists he has followed all CDC guidelines for isolating, testing, and masking."

"Masks are available. We are going to proceed," Engoron said.

The judge added that he hoped the trial could move "briskly" because former Trump fixer Michael Cohen was scheduled to testify later in the day.

Trump attorney Alina Habba said she did not want to use the same microphone as the prosecution, despite refusing to wear a mask.