Trump fails again to move hush-money case to federal court

A federal judge has again blocked President Donald Trump's attempt to move his hush-money conviction from New York state court to federal court, American media reported.

Judge Alvin Hellerstein of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York denied Trump's request to file a second notice of removal on Friday (local time).

Trump was indicted on charges of falsifying business records after paying adult film actor Stormy Daniels $130,000 before the 2016 presidential election to keep her from going public with allegations of a past sexual encounter, then disguising the reimbursement as legal fees.

A New York state court jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in May 2024.

Trump's legal team sought the transfer on the grounds that a federal court would be more favorable for applying presidential immunity.

Hellerstein ruled that removal was no longer possible because the case had already proceeded through a guilty verdict, sentencing, entry of judgment and the filing of an appeal.

He added that the payment to Daniels and the effort to conceal it were "purely personal" matters unrelated to the official duties of the presidency.

Hellerstein had also rejected an earlier removal request from Trump's team in 2023, when Trump was a former president.

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals later sent the case back for reconsideration in light of the Supreme Court's 2024 ruling on presidential immunity, but the outcome on remand was the same.

Trump's team immediately appealed the ruling. His attorneys argued that "in light of the Supreme Court's historic immunity decision, the federal and New York state constitutions, and other established legal precedent, the Manhattan district attorney's witch hunt must be removed to federal court and immediately reversed and dismissed."