For the second time in a week, a federal court has denied Donald Trump’s request to move his Manhattan criminal hush money case to federal court, MSNBC legal expert Lisa Rubin reported. Trump had attempted to shift the case, which stems from his conviction for falsifying business records related to hush payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels, arguing that some of the events occurred while he was in office.
Trump’s legal strategy involved moving the case to federal court in an attempt to frame his actions as part of his official duties as president. This argument aimed to leverage a Supreme Court decision that grants a presumption of immunity for certain presidential acts. However, federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein found no valid reason to support removing the case from state jurisdiction.
Even before Judge Hellerstein’s decision, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg had indicated his intent to block Trump’s efforts. In a letter to Judge Merchan, Bragg made it clear where his office stood. As Rubin wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “The Manhattan DA’s office hasn’t said a word in federal court with respect to Trump’s efforts to move the hush money case there. But their letter to Judge Merchan makes clear where they stand.”
This was not the first time Trump sought to move the case. Last week, Rubin reported that Judge Hellerstein had previously rejected Trump’s bid, although Trump’s legal team denied some aspects of Rubin’s account. According to Rubin, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s team criticized Trump’s “strategic and dilatory litigation tactics,” pointing out that Trump had abandoned an appeal after his first failed attempt to remove the case.
The district attorney’s office also reminded the court that Trump’s latest effort to move the case comes “nearly two months after [he] asked this Court to consider his motion for a new trial” and “three months after he was found guilty by a jury on thirty-four felony counts.”
Trump’s sentencing for the case is scheduled for later this month, though it remains unclear if further delays will occur. With Trump’s repeated attempts to move the case and potential new motions, the timeline for resolution may still face hurdles.