US Judge Blocks Trump Bid to Move Hush-Money Case
A judge blocked Trump's bid to move his hush-money case. The case stays in New York state court.
Judge Alvin Hellerstein made the ruling. Trump wanted the case moved to federal court.
He hoped to challenge his conviction there using presidential immunity claims. His lawyers cited a 2024 Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.
An appeals court had sent the case back to Hellerstein for review. Hellerstein ruled the payment was not protected by immunity.
He also said covering up embarrassment was not protected. This was the third time Hellerstein blocked this same request.
Trump was convicted in 2024 on 34 felony counts. The counts involved records used to hide a $130,000 payment. He paid porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
Klear Note — Presidential immunity rules can protect official acts, but not personal conduct. Federal and state courts are separate systems with different judges and rules.
Key Terms 3
- presidential immunity Legal protection that can shield a president from some criminal charges.
- felony counts Serious criminal charges filed against someone in court.
- hush-money case A case about secret payments made to keep information private.