Updated 9h ago · Politics
Trump's Bid to Move Hush Money Case Denied
A federal judge in Manhattan denied Trump's bid Friday to move his state criminal hush money case to federal court. It is the third time Judge Alvin Hellerstein has ruled against that effort.
- 34 counts of falsifying business records resulted in Trump's 2024 conviction.
- Hellerstein found Trump failed to show 'good cause and diligence' for the transfer.
- The Second Circuit had ordered Hellerstein to reconsider after the Supreme Court's 2024 immunity ruling.
- Trump received an unconditional discharge in January 2025 — no jail time, fines, or probation.
Why it matters: A federal transfer mattered because Trump argued a federal court would be more receptive to his immunity-based claim that evidence of his official acts was improperly used at trial.
- Trump also sought federal review of his argument that trial judge Juan Merchan should have been recused.
How 36 sources split on this story
Source landscape
Factuality
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Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right
Political Bias
Coverage by lean
36 sources · 41 articles · 42% Center coverage
Where they split: Coverage does not split on the facts; all outlets report the same ruling and the same quoted language from Hellerstein.
Center coverage, 15 sources: The center frames the story as a straightforward legal development in an ongoing case, focusing on the transfer denial without broader characterization.
CNBC2dTrump loses bid to transfer New York hush money case to federal court
Associated Press2dTrump sufre otro revés en intento de borrar su declaración de culpabilidad por pago a Stormy DanielsYNYahoo News2dFederal judge says Trump discussing payoff to Stormy Daniels isn’t an official presidential action
Axios2dTrump loses longshot bid to erase hush money conviction
Bloomberg2dDOJ Balks at Demands for Details on Trump’s Deal in IRS CaseCNCTV News2dU.S. President Donald Trump loses again in bid to erase his hush money conviction
Financial Times2dTrump loses bid to challenge hush-money conviction in federal court
Law and Crime1dJudge says Trump's effort to move Manhattan criminal case to federal court is 'neither new nor legally sufficient'
Newsweek2dTrump still a convicted criminal as judge rejects request—What happens next
PBS NewsHour2dTrump loses again in bid to erase his hush money conviction
Reuters2dTrump loses bid to move already-decided criminal hush money case to US court
The Hill2dTrump can’t appeal New York conviction in federal court, judge rules againLeft coverage, 11 sources: The left frames the ruling as another judicial rejection of Trump's attempts to escape accountability for a felony conviction, emphasizing the judge's language about forum-shopping.
The Independent2dJudge rejects Trump’s latest bid to erase hush money conviction
MSNBC2dJudge again refuses Trump’s bid to move his criminal case to federal court
ABC News2dJudge rejects President Trump's attempt to move his criminal hush money case to federal court
Al Jazeera1dUS judge rejects Trump’s bid to switch hush-money case to federal court
AlterNet2dJudge slaps down Trump’s 'dead horse' move to transfer felony convictions
CNN2dJudge rejects Trump’s newest bid to fight hush money conviction in federal court
Los Angeles Times1dPresident Trump loses again in bid to erase his hush money conviction
Mediaite2dJUST IN: Judge Rejects Trump’s Legal Maneuver to Fight Hush Money Conviction
Raw Story2dTrump's tweets haunt him as his 'second bite at the apple' in conviction appeal shut downTBGThe Boston Globe2dTrump loses again in bid to erase his hush-money conviction
The New York Times2dJudge Again Denies Trump’s Request to Move Hush-Money Case to Federal CourtRight10 sources
Just the News9hJudge rejects Trump bid to erase New York hush-money conviction
The Epoch Times2dTrump Loses Bid to Move Falsified Business Records Case to Federal Court
Citizen Free Press1dTrump loses bid to erase Stormy Daniels conviction.
Daily Mail2dHumiliation for Trump as judge blocks third desperate attempt to drag Stormy Daniels conviction out of New York
New York Post2dTrump once again loses bid to erase hush money conviction
NTD2dTrump Loses Bid to Move Falsified Business Records Case to Federal Court
Reason1dFederal Judge Concludes Then-Candidate Trump's Attempt to Remove N.Y. Hush Money Non-Reporting Prosecution to Federal Court Came Too Late
The Gateway Pundit1dClinton Judge Rejects Trump’s Attempt to Appeal New York Hush Money Lawfare Conviction * The Gateway Pundit * by Cristina Laila
The Washington Times2dJudge blocks Trump's bid to move hush money case to federal court
Washington Examiner1dTrump vows ‘powerful appeal’ after another federal court rejects hush money caseWhat’s next: Trump is expected to appeal Friday's ruling to the Second Circuit.
- His final brief in the parallel New York state appeal is due mid-September.
- Will the Second Circuit again vacate Hellerstein's ruling, or uphold it this time?
- How will the state appeals court rule on Trump's conviction once briefing concludes?