No escape for Trump in hush money case as US judge blocks bid to shift federal court

Donald Trump's attempt to transfer his New York hush money conviction from state to federal court has been thwarted by a federal judge. US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein rejected Trump's latest bid, stating that the case involves personal conduct unrelated to his official duties as president. The ruling came after a three-judge panel from the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals sought Hellerstein's input on how a 2024 Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity would apply to Trump's case.

The case centers around Trump's $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, which he was found guilty of falsifying business records for in May 2024. Trump's lawyers argued that the Supreme Court's July 2024 ruling should help overturn his conviction, citing the fact that jurors heard testimony from his first term in the White House.

However, Hellerstein disagreed, asserting that the case is about Trump's personal actions and not his presidential duties. Trump has vowed to appeal the latest setback, and his legal team has stated that they will continue fighting against what they call "Democrat weaponization."