US judge rejects Trump’s bid to switch hush-money case to federal court

In a recent ruling, US judge Alvin Hellerstein has denied former President Donald Trump's third attempt to move his hush-money criminal case from state to federal court. The denial comes after Trump became the first US president to be convicted of a crime in 2024, with a New York City jury finding him guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records.

Prosecutors argued that Trump tried to hide payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels, aiming to avoid negative publicity during his 2016 presidential campaign. However, Trump has consistently claimed his conviction should be dismissed due to a 2024 Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. Hellerstein, though, dismissed this argument, stating that hush money payments and cover-ups do not fall under presidential immunity.

Trump's legal team has vowed to appeal the decision, labeling Hellerstein's ruling as "baseless and lawless." The case revolves around a $130,000 payment made by Trump through his fixer, Michael Cohen, to buy Daniels' silence regarding a claimed affair during Trump's 2016 marriage. Trump has denied any romantic relationship with Daniels.