A federal judge on Friday once again rejected Donald Trump's effort to erase his hush money conviction, turning down a bid to move the state court case to federal court and have it dismissed on presidential immunity grounds.
U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein reiterated his earlier findings against Trump, stating that the reasons cited for renewing the request were neither new nor legally sufficient. The judge noted that Trump failed to show good cause and diligence. This marks the third time Judge Hellerstein has blocked an attempt to have the U.S. District Court in Manhattan take control of the case from the New York state court where Trump was tried and convicted.
A spokesperson for Trump's legal team criticized the decision, calling the ruling baseless and lawless, and confirmed that a powerful appeal will be filed. The guilty verdict, reached in May 2024, involved 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal a USD 130,000 hush money payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Trump was subsequently sentenced to an unconditional discharge, leaving the conviction intact without additional punishment, while pending appeals continue through the state court process.
The latest federal ruling follows an order last year by a federal appeals court instructing Judge Hellerstein to reconsider a prior denial. During oral arguments in February, the judge questioned the defense's legal maneuvers, suggesting that the legal team's choice to first pursue remedies in state court rather than immediately filing for removal amounted to taking two bites at the apple.
Defense attorney Jeffrey Wall argued during the proceedings that the legal team acted as sensible litigants given the tight timeframe following the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity. However, Judge Hellerstein maintained in his written ruling that the delay constituted a strategic decision, noting that regretting a tactical choice later does not establish sufficient legal cause.
"This legal development highlights the critical importance of procedural strategy and strict adherence to timelines in legal and business disputes. When navigating complex regulatory or judicial challenges, strategic decisions regarding jurisdiction and timing can permanently alter a litigant's options. For businesses and leaders alike, this underscores the necessity of proactive legal planning and timely execution to preserve all available remedies." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes
