U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein denied President Donald Trump’s renewed request to transfer his state court hush money conviction to federal court and have it dismissed based on presidential immunity claims. This marked the third time the judge has blocked such a transfer effort.
Trump’s legal team, characterizing the ruling as “baseless and lawless,” announced plans to appeal. The team argued that a Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity, along with federal and state constitutional provisions, required the case be moved to federal court and overturned. Trump was convicted in May 2024 of 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels. He received an unconditional discharge that left his conviction intact without additional punishment.
Hellerstein’s decision came after a federal appeals court instructed him to reconsider his prior denial. During February oral arguments, the judge criticized Trump’s legal strategy, noting that the defense team first sought dismissal in state court before pursuing removal to federal court. Hellerstein suggested this constituted attempting to take “two bites at the apple,” a legal principle courts disfavor. Trump’s lawyer argued the sequence reflected prudent litigation strategy given the compressed timeline following the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling, but Hellerstein disagreed, stating the legal team could have immediately filed for removal.
Trump continues to challenge his conviction through pending state appellate processes as well. The case represents the first criminal conviction of a former U.S. president who has since returned to office. State prosecutors did not immediately comment on the ruling.
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