Former President Donald Trump is making one last push to get the ridiculous “hush money” case moved to a federal court.
He’s won pretty much every case already, so let’s see if he gets this one dismissed, too. On merit, it should be…
At a glance:
- Former President Trump’s legal team is making a renewed push to move his hush money case to federal court, claiming procedural issues and presidential immunity concerns.
- Trump’s previous attempts to change courts and delay his sentencing have been rejected, but his lawyers are appealing to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
- The case revolves around Trump’s conviction for falsifying business records in relation to a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
In the latest development in Donald Trump’s legal battle over hush money payments, his attorneys have filed an appeal to move the case to federal court, arguing that the lower court’s decision was rushed and flawed. Trump’s legal team believes that the case, involving payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels to cover up an affair, raises significant constitutional questions, including presidential immunity and conflicts of interest.
The former president was convicted earlier this year on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in New York state court. These charges stem from efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election by concealing the payment to Daniels. Trump has consistently denied wrongdoing, and his legal team now hopes to reframe the case in a federal forum.
Trump’s latest appeal, filed with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, focuses on the complexities of federal-officer removal and presidential immunity. His attorneys argue that the case presents unprecedented legal challenges and concerns about local political reprisal against a former president, making a federal court the more appropriate venue.
Earlier efforts to move the case were rejected, and Trump’s appeal comes after the standard deadline to seek removal. However, his lawyers are citing “good cause” to justify the late appeal, pointing to a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity as grounds for reopening the issue. Additionally, they criticize the trial judge, Acting Justice Juan Merchan, for potential conflicts of interest, including his daughter’s employment with a firm linked to Democratic candidates.
While Trump’s sentencing is set for November 26, a ruling on the appeal is not expected before then. The Manhattan district attorney’s office has not yet responded to Trump’s latest appeal but has consistently opposed his efforts to move the case to federal court.
