(RepublicanNews.org) – Former President Donald Trump wants his “hush money” case moved to federal court, but Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg wants to keep the case right in his jurisdiction.
Bragg is prosecuting Trump for alleged campaign finance violations using a legal theory that most legal scholars have called, at best, novel. The case stems from a $130,000 payment Trump made to adult actress Stormy Daniels during the 2020 presidential race. Daniels claimed that she and Trump had an affair in 2006 while Trump was married.
While exchanging money for discretion is not illegal, DA Bragg appears to be arguing that Trump paid the money in such a way that it amounts to campaign finance and accounting law violations.
Earlier in May, Trump’s legal team argued to the Manhattan court that he could not be tried in a state court as the conduct in question occurred when Trump was president. A move to federal court would give Trump access to a wider jury pool than the overwhelmingly Democratic population of New York’s most famous borough.
Bragg’s office is pushing back. In statements filed in court on May 30th, Manhattan prosecutors argued the case should remain in state court. They say Trump’s “alleged criminal conduct had no connection” to his role as President. Instead, they argue, his actions were related to private business and to actions he took before he was President.
Trump’s legal team says DA Bragg’s prosecution is entirely political and an act of persecution rather than the pursuit of justice. They argued that federal courts have “protective jurisdiction” to mitigate any bias the state may have toward a federal official.
The Manhattan DA’s office disagrees, saying Trump’s argument fails legally and he can’t meet the legal test to make his case eligible to be heard in federal court.
All told, Trump is facing 34 felony counts relating to falsifying business records in connection with the payments to Stormy Daniels.
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