US judge rejects Trump bid to move hush-money case to federal court
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A US judge rejected President Donald Trump's third attempt to transfer his New York hush-money case to federal court. Judge Alvin Hellerstein ruled that Trump's arguments were 'neither new nor legally sufficient.' Trump's lawyers said they would appeal the decision.
Key Facts
- Judge Alvin Hellerstein rejected Trump's petition for a third time on Friday, ruling that the president's arguments were 'neither new nor legally sufficient.'
- Trump was convicted in 2024 of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 hush-money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
- Trump's lawyers announced they would appeal, calling Hellerstein's judgement 'baseless and lawless.'
- Judge Juan Merchan sentenced Trump to an unconditional discharge on January 10, 2025, meaning no jail time or fine but the convictions remain on his record.
The Court Ruling
Judge Alvin Hellerstein declined Trump's petition for a third time on Friday. He ruled that the president's arguments were 'neither new nor legally sufficient.' Hellerstein wrote that 'paying hush money to an adult film star or engaging in a cover-up of an embarrassment are not subsumed in presidential immunity.' Trump's lawyers announced they would appeal, denouncing the judgement as 'baseless and lawless.'
Case Background
Trump became the first US president to be convicted of a crime in 2024 when a New York City jury found him guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors argued that Trump attempted to conceal hush-money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels to avoid negative attention during his 2016 presidential bid. The case centres on a $130,000 payment Trump allegedly made through his fixer, Michael Cohen, to buy Daniels's silence. Trump has denied any sexual liaison with Daniels.
Sentencing and Aftermath
Judge Juan Merchan sentenced Trump to an unconditional discharge on January 10, 2025, just days before Trump's second inauguration. The sentence meant no jail time or financial penalty, but the convictions remain on his record. The New York indictment was one of four Trump faced in 2023; the other cases were dropped after Trump won re-election in 2024.
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US judge rejects Trump bid to move hush-money case to federal court
