No escape for Trump in hush money case as US judge blocks bid to shift federal court
A federal judge has rejected Donald Trump's attempt to move his New York hush money conviction case from state to federal court, ruling that the conduct involved was personal and not covered by presidential immunity. This decision came after a higher court asked for a closer look at how a Supreme Court ruling on immunity applied to the case.
Why it matters
This ruling is a significant legal setback for Donald Trump, affirming his conviction in the hush money case and preventing him from using presidential immunity as a defense in this specific context. It clarifies the scope of presidential immunity regarding personal conduct, setting a precedent for future cases involving former presidents.
US President Donald Trump’s bid to wipe out his New York hush money conviction has hit another roadblock, with a federal judge ruling that the case cannot be moved from state to federal court. Manhattan-based US district judge Alvin Hellerstein on Friday rejected Trump’s latest attempt to shift the case, saying the conduct involved was personal and not part of his official duties as president.The ruling came after a three-judge panel of the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals asked Hellerstein to take a closer look at how a July 2024 Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity applied to Trump’s case.At the centre of the dispute is Trump’s conviction over a $130,000 payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels.
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