Trump's Move To Have Hush Money Case Moved To Federal Court Gets Pushback From New York Prosecutors

Donald Trump's attempts to have the hush money criminal case moved from New York to Federal court are being resisted by prosecutors.

What Happened: On Tuesday, Manhattan prosecutors formally opposed the case's transfer to federal court, reported The Hill. 

The prosecutors reportedly rejected Trump’s lawyers’ assertions that the case couldn’t be pursued in a state court on the grounds that the alleged misconduct took place while he held the position of president.

Recommending that Trump be prosecuted in state courts, the state's lawyers said, the "alleged criminal conduct had no connection to his official duties and responsibilities as President, but instead arose from his unofficial actions relating to his private businesses and pre-election conduct."

Why It Matters: A move from state court to federal court will expand the potential jury pool, which is currently made up of Manhattan residents, who are heavily Democratic, noted The Hill.

Trump, the Republican frontrunner for the 2024 presidential election, was arraigned in the hush money matter in April and was charged with 34 felony counts. The investigation was surrounding alleged payments to porn actor Stormy Daniels — made weeks before the 2016 election count.

The prosecutors said that Trump's alleged criminal conduct was "divorced" from any official duty or responsibility, according to the Hill.

The Trump side's response is expected to reach the court by June 15. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, a Clinton appointee, has set June 27 as the date of hearing for whether the case will move to federal court, according to the Hill. The state court trial is reportedly expected to begin on March 25, 2024.

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