Trump tried to get the hush money case moved out of New York and into federal court, but a judge has rejected his motion.
Trump has “failed to show the conduct charged by the indictment is for, or relating to, any act performed by or for the president,” US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein said in his ruling Wednesday.
Hellerstein held an almost three-hour-long hearing last month, at which he voiced skepticism over Trump’s argument that he made payments to a porn star in his capacity as president. Trump argued the case belonged in federal court because the alleged crimes occurred while he was in office and immune from prosecution. Federal court might have proved a more favorable setting for his defense.
Trump wants the trial moved out of New York because he is more likely to be convicted on the felony charges of falsification of business records related to his hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels to cover up his affair during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump keeps losing and with a Georgia and potential second federal indictments looming, things may only get worse.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
