US Judge Blocks Trump Attempt to Move Hush-Money Case to Federal Court

A US judge has denied former President Donald Trump's motion to move his criminal conviction case from state to federal court, a setback in his legal strategy to overturn the conviction on hush-money related charges.

Trump had sought to shift the case from New York state court to the federal system, arguing that his actions fell within his presidential duties and therefore warranted federal jurisdiction and potential immunity protections. The former president was convicted of falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments made during his 2016 presidential campaign.

The judge's rejection of the transfer motion represents another legal obstacle for Trump as he pursues multiple avenues to challenge his conviction. The decision keeps the case within the state court system where the original trial and conviction took place.

Trump's legal team has pursued several strategies in recent months to overturn the conviction, including claims of presidential immunity and challenges to the trial proceedings. The rejection of the federal transfer request narrows his options for having the conviction reviewed or dismissed at a higher jurisdictional level.

The case remains one of several legal challenges facing the former president as he navigates both criminal proceedings and civil lawsuits.