USA Trump’s Hush Money Case Heads to Federal Court as Appeal Battle Begins

[Social Media]

 

Donald Trump’s hush money conviction is once again under legal scrutiny as his legal team attempts to shift the case from state to federal court. The former president, who was convicted last year by a New York jury on 34 counts of falsifying business records, is now pressing forward with an appeal that could reshape the outcome — and possibly erase the historic first-ever criminal conviction of a U.S. president.

 

The appeal, which officially begins with oral arguments before a federal court in Manhattan on Wednesday, centers around a legal maneuver called “removal.” Trump’s attorneys argue that the case, which stems from efforts to silence adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election, should never have been tried in a state criminal court. They claim the prosecution itself was politically motivated and therefore belongs under federal jurisdiction. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, led by Alvin Bragg, vehemently disagrees, stating that such a transfer is impermissible after a conviction has already been rendered.

 

Trump’s conviction on May 30, 2024, for reimbursing his former lawyer Michael Cohen for a $130,000 hush money payment, marked an unprecedented moment in U.S. history. Despite the weight of the charges, the outcome carried no immediate legal penalties. On January 10, 2025, New York Justice Juan Merchan handed down a sentence that preserved the jury’s verdict but imposed no jail time, fines, or probation. “The only lawful sentence” available, said Merchan at the hearing, was “an unconditional discharge.” His decision was driven by the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on presidential immunity, which cautioned against sentencing a sitting president for acts potentially tied to official duties.

 

Trump, who reimbursed Cohen through a series of checks — including some drawn from the White House — had those payments logged as legal expenses. Prosecutors argued this falsification of records formed a conspiracy to unlawfully influence the 2016 election. Evidence presented at trial included testimony from Daniels, Cohen, former aides, and other associates, alongside emails, texts, invoices, phone records, and even Trump’s signature on checks written with his signature Sharpie pen.

 

Though Trump continues to deny wrongdoing, he and his legal team are leaning heavily on the Supreme Court’s immunity decision, which they argue should have excluded certain evidence. However, Judge Merchan, a New York appeals court, and the U.S. Supreme Court all rejected those arguments, stating Trump’s complaints about evidentiary issues should be addressed through a standard appeal.

 

Now, the spotlight turns to the federal appeals judges who must decide whether Trump’s case should be removed from the state court system. If successful, the move could open the door for the Department of Justice to dismiss the case — a possibility that Trump’s critics fear and his defenders cheer. To bolster the effort, Trump has enlisted the prestigious law firm Sullivan & Cromwell. Still, the Department of Justice itself has filed a brief opposing the transfer, urging the court to dismiss Trump’s request outright.

 

This is just one of several legal fronts the former president is currently facing. Trump is also appealing an $83 million defamation verdict won by writer E. Jean Carroll and battling a colossal civil fraud judgment that has ballooned to over half a billion dollars with interest. That case found that Trump and his associates misled banks and investors to enrich his real estate empire.

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Independent  2025-06-13

 

 

[Paul Henry]

Whether the case is moved to a federal court (so TACO can pardon himself) or not will not change the fact that he is a sexual preditor,liar and cheat, and totally un American.

[Thingamabob]

1 hour ago, Paul Henry said:

Whether the case is moved to a federal court (so TACO can pardon himself) or not will not change the fact that he is a sexual preditor,liar and cheat, and totally un American.

Of course, no American ever lies or cheats.

[JonnyF]

Good Luck Donald.

 

This disgusting lawfare needs to be shown for exactly what it was.

 

The election is over. The use of "convicted felon" in every sentence involving Trump failed spectacularly, as I predicted it would. No need to keep up the charade any longer.  

[MalcolmB]

6 hours ago, Social Media said:

Trump, who reimbursed Cohen through a series of checks — including some drawn from the White House

Lock him up.

 

 

[Jim Blue]

Those dahm checks ....should have done it the old fashioned cash is king way!

[zepplin]

57 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Good Luck Donald.

 

This disgusting lawfare needs to be shown for exactly what it was.

 

The election is over. The use of "convicted felon" in every sentence involving Trump failed spectacularly, as I predicted it would. No need to keep up the charade any longer.  

 The polls speak for themselves, he has the worst approval rating of any president ever! 
And the biglyest protest rallies against him, he’s a lying scumbag!  It’s so funny to see the farmers who all voted for him going bankrupt, even though they knew he would be going after undocumented workers, who kept those farms going! 
karma at its best !

[Eric Loh]

1 hour ago, Thingamabob said:

Of course, no American ever lies or cheats.

True but no one lies and cheats more than him and embarrassingly he is the President and belongs to the party of law and order😁

[Suetape]

Can’t stand the man!  A disgrace to our nation. 

[SunsetT]

Once transfered to a federal court, It will reach the Supreme Court where Trump appointed judges ensure the majority and they will acquit the a r s e h o l e!

[cjinchiangrai]

10 hours ago, zepplin said:

 The polls speak for themselves, he has the worst approval rating of any president ever! 
And the biglyest protest rallies against him, he’s a lying scumbag!  It’s so funny to see the farmers who all voted for him going bankrupt, even though they knew he would be going after undocumented workers, who kept those farms going! 
karma at its best !

Don't forget destroying the export markets with the tariffs. Even if they could harvest, there is no place to sell the crops. Expect to see Trump bragging about lowering the price of milk and tofu.