The Daily Fuckup

Donald Trump lost a bid on July 19, 2023, to move the Manhattan hush-money prosecution from New York state court into federal court. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein denied the removal request and remanded the case to New York Supreme Court, keeping the criminal matter in the forum where prosecutors filed it in the first place. ([nycourts.gov](https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/ad1/calendar/List_Word/2023/06_Jun/27/PDF/People%20of%20NY%20%20v%20%20Trump%20%20%282023-00717%29.pdf))

The decision turned on Trump’s argument that the case belonged in federal court because of theories tied to his status and conduct as president. Hellerstein was not persuaded, and the order left the state prosecution intact. The case concerns the falsification-of-business-records charges brought in Manhattan over reimbursements connected to the Stormy Daniels payment. ([nycourts.gov](https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/ad1/calendar/List_Word/2023/06_Jun/27/PDF/People%20of%20NY%20%20v%20%20Trump%20%20%282023-00717%29.pdf))

That ruling did not end the broader fight over the case, but it did close off this particular removal attempt. The practical effect was straightforward: the state trial court kept control of the case, and Trump’s effort to change the forum failed. ([nycourts.gov](https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/ad1/calendar/List_Word/2023/06_Jun/27/PDF/People%20of%20NY%20%20v%20%20Trump%20%20%282023-00717%29.pdf))

The removal fight was only one piece of the larger legal calendar around Trump, but the July 19 order made one thing clear: the Manhattan case was staying in New York state court unless and until a higher court said otherwise. ([nycourts.gov](https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/ad1/calendar/List_Word/2023/06_Jun/27/PDF/People%20of%20NY%20%20v%20%20Trump%20%20%282023-00717%29.pdf))