Updated 1w+ 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
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Factuality
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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.
CNBC1w+Trump loses bid to transfer New York hush money case to federal courtAssociated Press1w+Trump sufre otro revés en intento de borrar su declaración de culpabilidad por pago a Stormy DanielsYahoo News1w+Federal judge says Trump discussing payoff to Stormy Daniels isn’t an official presidential actionAxios1w+Trump loses longshot bid to erase hush money convictionBloomberg1w+DOJ Balks at Demands for Details on Trump’s Deal in IRS CaseCTV News1w+U.S. President Donald Trump loses again in bid to erase his hush money convictionFinancial Times1w+Trump loses bid to challenge hush-money conviction in federal courtLaw and Crime1w+Judge says Trump's effort to move Manhattan criminal case to federal court is 'neither new nor legally sufficient'Newsweek1w+Trump still a convicted criminal as judge rejects request—What happens nextPBS NewsHour1w+Trump loses again in bid to erase his hush money convictionReuters1w+Trump loses bid to move already-decided criminal hush money case to US courtThe Hill1w+Trump can’t appeal New York conviction in federal court, judge rules againUSA Today1w+Judge blocks another Trump attempt to challenge hush money convictionWFLA News Channel 81w+Trump can’t appeal New York conviction in federal court, judge rules againWKBN Youngstown1w+Trump can’t appeal New York conviction in federal court, judge rules again
Left 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 Independent1w+Judge rejects Trump’s latest bid to erase hush money convictionMSNBC1w+Judge again refuses Trump’s bid to move his criminal case to federal courtABC News1w+Judge rejects President Trump's attempt to move his criminal hush money case to federal courtAl Jazeera1w+US judge rejects Trump’s bid to switch hush-money case to federal courtAlterNet1w+Judge slaps down Trump’s 'dead horse' move to transfer felony convictionsCNN1w+Judge rejects Trump’s newest bid to fight hush money conviction in federal courtLos Angeles Times1w+President Trump loses again in bid to erase his hush money convictionMediaite1w+JUST IN: Judge Rejects Trump’s Legal Maneuver to Fight Hush Money ConvictionRaw Story1w+Trump's tweets haunt him as his 'second bite at the apple' in conviction appeal shut downThe Boston Globe1w+Trump loses again in bid to erase his hush-money convictionThe New York Times1w+Judge Again Denies Trump’s Request to Move Hush-Money Case to Federal Court
Right10 sources
Just the News1w+Judge rejects Trump bid to erase New York hush-money convictionThe Epoch Times1w+Trump Loses Bid to Move Falsified Business Records Case to Federal CourtCitizen Free Press1w+Trump loses bid to erase Stormy Daniels conviction.Daily Mail1w+Humiliation for Trump as judge blocks third desperate attempt to drag Stormy Daniels conviction out of New YorkNew York Post1w+Trump once again loses bid to erase hush money convictionNTD1w+Trump Loses Bid to Move Falsified Business Records Case to Federal CourtReason1w+Federal Judge Concludes Then-Candidate Trump's Attempt to Remove N.Y. Hush Money Non-Reporting Prosecution to Federal Court Came Too LateThe Gateway Pundit1w+Clinton Judge Rejects Trump’s Attempt to Appeal New York Hush Money Lawfare Conviction * The Gateway Pundit * by Cristina LailaThe Washington Times1w+Judge blocks Trump's bid to move hush money case to federal courtWashington Examiner1w+Trump vows ‘powerful appeal’ after another federal court rejects hush money case
What’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?
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