Judge rejects Trump's bid to move hush money case to federal court

A federal judge on Friday rejected President Donald Trump's latest attempt to transfer his New York criminal hush money case to federal court, dealing a significant setback to his effort to overturn his felony conviction on grounds of presidential immunity. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein ruled that Trump's arguments for moving the case were "neither new nor legally sufficient" and that the president had failed to show the required good cause and diligence. The decision, issued on August 28, 2026, marks the third time Judge Hellerstein has blocked Trump's efforts to shift the case from state to federal jurisdiction.