NEW YORK – A federal judge on Tuesday denied former President Donald Trump's request to intervene in the criminal case against him over payments made, before the 2016 election, to ensure the silence of a former pornographic actress. , Stormy Daniels, who says she had an intimate relationship with the former president. It was Mr. Trump's latest legal effort to overturn a Manhattan jury's verdict that found him guilty in May on charges of forging documents as part of a scheme to influence the election and delay the award. of the measure of punishment against him.
Judge Alvin Hellerstein denied a request by the former president's lawyers asking the Manhattan District Court to take over the case. The judge ruled that the necessary evidence was not presented for the federal court to intervene by taking over the case.
With this decision, the court file against former President Trump will continue to stay in the New York state court, where the sentencing is expected on September 18.
Former President Trump's lawyers had tried to take the case to federal court, where they could have sought to overturn the decision and dismiss the case after the Supreme Court ruled on broad immunity for former presidents for the actions taken. during duty.
Judge Hellerstein also last year rejected a similar request to transfer the case to federal court. Without commenting on the impact of the decision of July 1 of the Supreme Court, the judge states that regarding the issue of the payments made by Mr. Trump, they “were private, unofficial actions, outside the limits of the executive authority”.
Judge Hellerstein fended off lawyers' arguments that Mr. Trump had become a victim of “bias, conflict of interest and the appearance of improper actions” in a case presided over by Judge Juan M. Merchan in New York state court.
“This Court lacks jurisdiction to hear Mr. Trump's arguments regarding the inadequacy of the New York trial,” Judge Hellerstein wrote in a four-page ruling.
Judge Hellerstein notes that former President Trump must appeal to the New York state court, and that he may then appeal to the United States Supreme Court.
“It would be highly inappropriate for this Court to assess issues of bias, injustice or error in the state's judicial system,” Judge Hellerstein wrote. “These are matters for state appellate courts.”
His decision came hours after former President Trump's lawyers filed for federal court intervention. The lawyers also submitted a request last week, the documentation for which was rejected because the proper procedures were not followed.
Earlier Tuesday, Manhattan prosecutors voiced their opposition to former President Trump's efforts to delay proceedings after he was found guilty. In a letter to the New York state judge, prosecutors say the judge has no legal obligation to delay the proceedings. They asked Judge Juan M. Merchan not to delay ruling on the defense attorneys' two main requests: former President Trump's request to delay sentencing until after the November election, and their request overturn the decision and dismiss the case, following the decision made by the Supreme Court regarding immunity.
Judge Merchan has said he will rule on September 16 regarding former President Trump's request to overturn the guilty verdict. Even the decision to postpone the sentence is expected to be taken in the coming days.
Former President Trump pleaded guilty in May to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to hide $130,000 in payments to pornographic actress Stormy Daniels, a relationship with which could damage his candidacy. in the 2016 election. Former President Trump has denied her claim of a relationship between them and has stated that he has not committed any wrongdoing.
Falsifying business data is punishable by up to four years in prison. Other possible penalties range from probation to fines.
