POLITICS APRIL 14, 2020 / 6:03 PM / UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO

Trial of Giuliani associates Parnas, Fruman likely delayed to 2021 after U.S. election

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The trial of Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, two associates of U.S. President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, for alleged campaign finance violations will likely be delayed until after November’s presidential election because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a letter to U.S. District Judge Paul Oetken, who presides over the case, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman in Manhattan said the government did not object to a defense proposal to adjourn the trial until February 2021 from Oct. 5, 2020.

Berman said pandemic-related travel and social distancing restrictions have limited the availability of witnesses and grand jurors, causing the government to push back its timeline to possibly amend the October 2019 indictment.

He also said the restrictions have made it harder for Parnas and Fruman to prepare their defenses.

A trial delay requires Oetken’s approval.

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