Federal judge dismisses Donald Trump’s hush-money criminal complaint pending in state court

A federal judge dismissed Wednesday donald trumphis bid to remove the hush-money criminal case from new york An appeal from state court to federal court ruled that the former president did not meet the high legal standards to change jurisdiction.

U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein’s decision will put Trump on trial in a Manhattan state court as early as next spring, which coincides with the 2024 presidential primary season and could lead to a heated lawsuit by the twice-indicted Republican to return to the White House.

Separately, Trump has been charged in federal court in Florida with illegally storing classified documents in his Mar-a-Lago mansion and obstructing an investigation. Prosecutors hope to bring the case to trial in December.

Trump’s attorneys can appeal Hellerstein’s ruling to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan.

The judge issued a ruling at a hearing on the issue late last month, ridiculing defense claims that the suspected conduct at the root of Trump’s charges was to pay compensation to a longtime personal lawyer. Michael Cohen It was done within the “color of office” as president as part of a plan to bury allegations of adultery that arose during his first campaign.

Hellerstein said the evidence suggests that Cohen, who arranged and paid for part of the hush money, was “privately employed, not by the will of or affiliated with the Office of the President.” “There is no evidence of what Cohen did,” the judge said at a hearing on June 27, although bills exist showing the amount Cohen was paid.

On April 4, Republican President Trump pleaded not guilty in state court to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to hide compensation for Cohen, who paid a porn actor $130,000. Stormy Danielsshe claims she had extramarital sexual contact with Trump years ago.

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