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A federal appeals court in New York has ordered a review of President Donald Trump's hush money case, giving him another chance to argue that it should be moved to federal court. The decision follows Trump's conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump was sentenced to an unconditional discharge, meaning he was convicted but not punished.
The three-judge panel from the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, all appointed by Democratic presidents, sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein. The panel instructed Hellerstein to consider whether evidence used in the state trial related to Trump's official acts as president, which could be immune from prosecution under a Supreme Court ruling. The ruling had previously granted Trump immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts.
According to CNN, the appeals court did not express an opinion on how Hellerstein should rule but emphasized the need to review evidence related to Trump's time in the White House. Trump's legal team argues that the prosecution improperly included testimony from former White House aides Hope Hicks and Madeleine Westerhout, which they claim pertains to Trump's official duties.
NY1 reports that Trump's lawyers are seeking to move the case to federal court, arguing that federal officers, including former presidents, should be tried in federal court for actions performed while in office. The Manhattan District Attorney's office, led by Alvin Bragg, maintains that the evidence does not relate to official acts and that the case should remain in state court.
The appeals court's decision does not grant Trump the immediate relief he sought but allows for further examination of the case. Trump's legal team continues to argue for the dismissal of the case based on presidential immunity and other legal precedents. The outcome of this review could impact the handling of similar cases involving federal officials in the future.
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