Judge rejects Trump's bid to move Manhattan criminal case to federal court

U.S. District Judge Andrew Oldham rejected Donald Trump’s bid to move the hush‑money criminal case from Manhattan state court to federal court on Monday. The judge ruled that the request is “neither new nor legally sufficient,” denying the former president’s attempt to shift the case’s jurisdiction.

Trump’s hush‑money case stems from a 2016 alleged payment of $130,000 to adult‑film star Stormy Daniels to keep her from speaking about a sexual encounter. New York prosecutors charged him with falsifying business records, and the trial is scheduled to begin in September. Trump’s lawyers argued that a federal judge would be less hostile to the former president and that the case was “politically motivated.” The motion was filed early this year, but the judge said the argument had been made before and the state court had already taken the case under its authority.

Oldham’s decision cites the standard that a jurisdictional shift must be “new” and “legally sufficient.” He noted that the state court already has jurisdiction, that the federal court would have no additional authority, and that Trump’s argument was essentially a repetition of prior filings. The judge also warned that the move could delay the trial and that the state court would continue to proceed as scheduled. Trump’s legal team said they would appeal to the Second Circuit, arguing that the state court’s actions infringe on federal rights.

If the appeal is denied, the hush‑money trial will continue in Manhattan state court, likely starting in September as planned. The ruling keeps the case on its current trajectory and underscores the difficulty of shifting jurisdiction for criminal matters in New York. The outcome may influence how other high‑profile