The federal trial of American Samoa Lt. Governor Faoa Ipulasi Sunia and Senator Tulifua Lam Yuen has now been postponed from January to June 2009.
The trial was to start on January 12th but the government has agreed that the timing, the week before president elect Obama takes office, would create problems in putting up trial witnesses from American Samoa in D.C. hotels, whose rates will be double their standard charges.
Additionally the government said that one of its lead prosecutors would be on paternity leave at the end of January and would need extra time to be brought up to speed on the case before trial.
The trial of the two men on corruption, conspiracy, bribery and fraud charges has now been set down for June 10th next year.
