New York, United States

A federal judge on Tuesday (Sept 3) rejected former President Donald Trump's request to intervene in his New York hush money criminal case, effectively blocking his attempt to move the case to federal court. 

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Trump, who is convicted of falsifying business records and is awaiting sentencing, had hoped to leverage the US Supreme Court's recent ruling on presidential immunity to overturn his conviction.

'Unofficial acts'

US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein dismissed Trump's bid just hours after his legal team submitted the request. 

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In a four-page decision, Hellerstein ruled that Trump's hush money payments to silence adult film star Stormy Daniels were "private, unofficial acts, outside the bounds of executive authority," and thus ineligible for immunity under the Supreme Court's July ruling. 

Trump's legal team had previously tried to shift jurisdiction before the trial, with Hellerstein similarly rejecting the move. In his ruling, he stated that the defence had failed to meet the high burden required to change the jurisdiction.

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The former US president's lawyers had also complained about "bias, conflicts of interest, and appearances of impropriety," during his trial, claiming the presiding state judge, Juan M. Merchan did not have "jurisdiction to hear Mr. Trump's arguments concerning the propriety of the New York trial." Hellerstein brushed off these claims.

A spokesperson for Trump's campaign indicated that they would likely appeal the ruling, continuing efforts to move the case to federal court. 

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Sentencing soon

As per CBS News, Judge Merchan is expected to rule on key defence motions soon, including Trump's request to overturn his conviction and delay sentencing until after the November election. 

Trump's sentencing is currently scheduled for September 18, just two days after Merchan is expected to rule on his request to overturn the verdict.

In May, Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts for falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. Trump denied the affair and wrongdoing, and his legal team argued that his conviction was tainted by constitutional violations and that the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling should vitiate the verdict.

Trump's lawyers have also argued that sentencing just two days after the immunity decision wouldn't allow enough time for legal steps, such as appeals, if the conviction is upheld. They further contended that a September sentencing could be perceived as election interference, as it comes seven weeks before Election Day and coincides with early voting.

(With inputs from agencies)