Federal Judge Rejects Trump’s Attempt to Shift Hush Money Case to Federal Court
A federal judge on Tuesday swiftly rejected Donald Trump’s request to move his hush money criminal case to federal court, thwarting the former president’s efforts to circumvent the state court where he was convicted. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein’s ruling, delivered just hours after Trump’s legal team made the request, dealt a significant blow to Trump’s plan to challenge his conviction and seek its dismissal under a recent Supreme Court ruling. The judge’s decision is rapid, underscoring the legal process’s efficiency.
Trump’s Plan to Challenge Conviction Derailed
Trump’s legal team sought to leverage the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity ruling to overturn his conviction for falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels. The payment was intended to suppress Daniels’ claims of an affair with Trump, potentially damaging his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump’s lawyers argued that his conviction should be vacated in light of the Supreme Court decision, which restricts prosecutions of ex-presidents for official acts.
Judge Hellerstein’s Decision
In his four-page ruling, Judge Hellerstein reaffirmed his previous decision, stating that the hush money payments, which were made to suppress allegations of an extramarital affair, were “private, unofficial acts” and not subject to the protections of executive authority. Hellerstein rejected Trump’s claims of bias and impropriety during the state court trial, emphasizing that such matters should be addressed by state appellate courts rather than in federal court. He also ruled that the Supreme Court’s decision had no bearing on Trump’s case since the payments were unrelated to his official presidential duties.
Appeal and Upcoming Sentencing
In response to Hellerstein’s ruling, Trump’s legal team filed an immediate appeal with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, stated that the former president “will continue to fight” to move the case to federal court.
Trump is set to be sentenced on September 18, and his lawyers have asked for a delay, citing the upcoming November election and the need for time to consider next steps. They argued that sentencing Trump so close to the election could be seen as interference, as early voting will be underway. Prosecutors have deferred to the court on the timing of the sentencing but have expressed openness to allowing sufficient time to adjudicate Trump’s appeal while avoiding unreasonable delays. A delay in sentencing could potentially prolong the legal proceedings and the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s future.
Looking Ahead
The upcoming sentencing and the appeals process will be critical moments for Trump, who faces potential jail time or other penalties. The case continues to be a significant legal hurdle for the former president as he pursues his 2024 presidential campaign. The potential consequences of the upcoming sentencing underscore the gravity of the situation for Trump.