Judge Rejects Trump’s Bid to Move New York Felony Case to Federal Court
Former President Donald Trump’s attempt to shift his New York criminal case to federal court has been rejected by a U.S. judge.
Trump and his lawyers argued that because Trump was president when he carried out the actions for which he’s been charged, the case should be heard in federal, not New York, court.
U.S. District Court Judge Alvin Hellerstein, a Clinton appointee, disagreed.
“Trump has failed to show that the conduct charged by the Indictment is for or relating to any act performed by or for the President under color of the official acts of a President,” Hellerstein said in a July 19 ruling. “Trump also has failed to show that he has a colorable federal defense to the Indictment.”
A lawyer for Mr. Trump declined to comment.
The office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Bragg, a Democrat, announced earlier this year that a grand jury approved 34 felony counts against Trump for allegedly falsifying business records.
This is a breaking story that will be updated.
