Judge again rejects Trump's bid to erase his New York hush money conviction
A federal judge on Friday once again spurned President Trump's effort to erase his hush money conviction, rejecting the president's bid to move the state court case to federal court and have it dismissed on presidential immunity grounds.
TL;DR
- Federal Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein rejected Donald Trump's bid to move his hush money conviction to federal court.
- The judge ruled that paying hush money to an adult film star or covering up an embarrassment are not covered by presidential immunity.
- This is the third time Hellerstein has blocked Trump's attempts to have the U.S. District Court take control of the case from the New York state court.
- Trump's legal team announced they are appealing the ruling, calling it "baseless and lawless."
- The judge noted that Trump's lawyers delayed seeking removal to federal court, calling it a "strategic decision" that likely cost him the right to pursue federal remedies.
- Trump was convicted in 2024 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels.