Trump loses bid to transfer New York hush money case to federal court

A federal judge has once again dismissed President Trump's request to transfer his criminal hush money case to federal court. On Friday, Judge Alvin Hellerstein rejected the second attempt, stating that the grounds presented by the defendant were neither new nor legally sufficient. Trump, convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records connected to a $130,000 hush payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, has chosen to appeal his conviction.

The U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling on immunity prompted Hellerstein to reconsider the case, but he has reaffirmed his earlier decision. Trump contends that the Supreme Court's 2024 presidential immunity decision, which grants broad protection from prosecution for official acts, renders some of the prosecution's evidence and testimony inadmissible.