An unvaccinated former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin tested positive for Covid-19 Monday, forcing a postponement of a trial in her libel lawsuit against The New York Times. (AP)
The trial was expected to begin with jury selection Monday morning, but U.S. District Court Judge Jed S. Rakoff told his Manhattan courtroom that he had learned Sunday night that Palin had tested positive on an initial test. “She is, of course, unvaccinated,” he noted. (WaPo)
Her first positive test before the New York trial was an at-home test, Rakoff said. After another positive test, Rakoff announced that jury selection would not be delayed. Rakoff said courthouse rules would permit Palin to return to court on Feb. 3, even if she still tests positive, as long as she has no symptoms. If she does have symptoms, she can be looked at on Feb. 2 by a doctor who provides services to the courts. (The Guardian)
Palin sued the Times and its former editorial page editor for allegedly damaging her reputation with a 2017 editorial that suggested an image produced by Palin’s political action committee incited the 2011 shooting of Rep. Gabby Giffords of Arizona. (CNBC)