President Donald Trump faces another legal setback after a federal judge rejected his latest attempt to move his New York hush money case from state court to federal court. The Alvin Hellerstein hush money decision found that Trump’s arguments were not legally sufficient, leaving his state-level conviction undisturbed.
Judge Rejects Trump’s Federal Court Bid
Hellerstein said Trump had failed to demonstrate the necessary grounds for transferring the case. The judge also concluded that the issues surrounding the hush money payments involved Trump’s personal conduct rather than official presidential duties, meaning they were not protected by presidential immunity.
Trump’s legal team had relied in part on the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling recognizing broad presidential immunity for official acts. His lawyers argued that evidence and testimony used during the New York trial should have been protected. Hellerstein rejected that argument, finding that the hush money arrangement did not fall within the scope of presidential responsibilities.
Trump’s 34-Count Conviction Remains
Trump’s was convicted in May 2024 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records connected to a $130,000 payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. The conviction made Trump the first former U.S. president convicted of a crime.
The latest ruling does not erase that conviction. Instead, the case remains in the New York state court system while Trump continues his legal challenge. Hellerstein also criticized the effort to shift the case after earlier proceedings had already taken place, saying Trump could not seek relief in one court and then move to another when the outcome appeared unfavorable.
Trump Plans to Continue Appeal
Trump’s attorneys have indicated that they intend to appeal the ruling. His legal team maintains that the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity decision supports their effort to overturn the conviction and has characterized the prosecution as politically motivated.
The decision represents another obstacle for Trump as he continues his effort to challenge the historic conviction. For now, the federal judge’s ruling means his attempt to transfer the case to federal court has failed, leaving the legal battle to continue through the existing appeals process.
Source : cnbc.com
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