Trump Loses Bid to Transfer New York Hush Money Case to Federal Court
Trump's conviction in the hush money case relates to conduct that preceded the 2016 presidential election, which led to his first term in the White House.
TL;DR
- Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein denied Donald Trump's third request to transfer his New York state criminal hush money case to federal court.
- The judge ruled that Trump waited too long to seek removal after his conviction and a U.S. Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity.
- Hellerstein stated that paying hush money or engaging in a cover-up of embarrassment are not official acts and do not qualify for presidential immunity.
- Trump's lawyers argued that evidence included presidential aides' involvement, which should have been excluded due to official conduct, but the judge disagreed.
- Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment before the 2016 election.
- Trump's legal team plans to appeal Hellerstein's ruling, asserting the case should be removed to federal court and dismissed.