A federal judge has rejected Donald Trump’s request to intervene in his New York hush-money criminal case, denying his bid to overturn his felony conviction and delay his sentencing. The case will remain in state court as Trump continues to challenge the verdict.
Judge Denies Trump’s Request to Intervene in Hush-Money Case
On Tuesday, a federal judge ruled against former President Donald Trump’s attempt to have his New York hush-money case transferred to federal court. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein concluded that Trump had not met the burden of proof required for federal intervention, meaning the case will stay within the state court system where it was originally tried.
Prosecutors Oppose Delays in Post-Trial Decisions
The decision comes after Manhattan prosecutors opposed Trump’s efforts to delay post-trial decisions while he sought federal court involvement. Prosecutors argued that there was no legal requirement for the state court to wait for the federal ruling before moving forward with sentencing and other decisions.
Trump’s Legal Team Seeks to Overturn Verdict
Trump’s lawyers had argued for a delay in sentencing, which is set to take place on September 18, citing the proximity to the upcoming November election as a concern. They claimed that sentencing Trump shortly before the election could be seen as interference and that more time was needed to consider next steps, including a potential appeal.
Conviction and Charges
In May 2024, Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 hush-money payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. The conviction carries a possible sentence of up to four years in prison, though other outcomes like probation or fines are also possible.
The Role of Presidential Immunity in Trump’s Defense
Trump’s defense team has argued that the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, which limits prosecutions of ex-presidents for official acts, should impact his case. They contend that some evidence presented at trial, including testimony about Trump’s reactions to news coverage of the hush-money deal, was inadmissible under this ruling.
What’s Next for Trump?
Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the trial, is expected to rule on Trump’s motion to overturn the verdict on September 16. The defense has indicated that if the case were moved to federal court, they would seek to dismiss it entirely based on claims of immunity and alleged violations of Trump’s constitutional rights.
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