A federal judge has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest attempt to erase his New York criminal conviction. U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein denied Trump’s petition to move the hush money case to federal court ruling that his arguments were “neither new nor legally sufficient.”
No protection under presidential immunity
Trump argued that the conviction should be thrown out following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling regarding presidential immunity. However, Judge Hellerstein firmly dismissed the connection, writing that “paying hush money to an adult film star or engaging in a cover-up of an embarrassment are not subsumed in presidential immunity.”
The judge emphasized that “there is no way that discussions regarding hush-money payments to cover up the President’s relations with Stormy Daniels could be an official act.”
Criticism of legal strategy
In his ruling, the judge criticized the defense’s delayed timing, stating that Trump “has failed to show good cause and diligence.”
Hellerstein noted that the defense was attempting a “second bite at the apple” by switching courts after losing earlier rounds in state court, calling it “a result the law disfavors.”
Defense team fires back
Trump’s legal team strongly criticized the decision and vowed to appeal. A spokesperson for his legal defense called the ruling “baseless and lawless” and asserted that “established legal precedent mandates that the Witch Hunt perpetrated by the Manhattan DA be removed to federal court.”
What comes next
The decision marks the third time the judge has blocked Trump’s efforts to transfer the case away from New York state courts. While the case remains anchored in state jurisdiction, Trump is continuing to pursue a separate appeal through the New York state court system.
