US govt asks to reset Ataligs’ jury trial once more

The U.S. government has asked the U.S. District Court for the NMI to reset once more the jury trial of Rota Mayor Efraim M. Atalig and his girlfriend, Evelyn Atalig, as the prosecution’s key witness will undergo a three-week training.

Assistant U.S. attorney Eric S. O’Malley asked to move the trial date to either June 23, 2020, or around July 28, 2020. He said the government prefers the earlier date if safety related to COVID-19 and the circumstances permit.

He said their key witness, investigator Travis Hurst from the Office of the Public Auditor, has been accepted into a three-week training program with the U.S. Secret Service beginning July 6, 2020.

O’Malley said the Ataligs have indicated that they do not oppose resetting the trial to either date.

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona recently reset the trial to July 7, 2020.

The trial has already been reset several times for many reasons; this recent one is due to the COVID-19 pandemic.