Former President Donald Trump filed a notice of appeal Friday in the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in the ongoing falsified documents criminal case surrounding payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump is appealing a federal district court ruling keeping the criminal case in New York State Court instead of federal court.
The notice of appeal reads:
Notice is hereby given that Donald J. Trump appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from the judgment and order entered on July 19, 2023, that denied Donald J. Trump’s removal motion and granted the People’s motion to remand this case to state court.
The case surrounds “hush-money” payments made to Daniels during the 2016 election to hide an alleged affair between Trump and Daniels. The prosecution says that Trump paid $130,000 to Daniels through his attorney Michael Cohen. Daniels was allegedly paid through a shell company to hide the payments. The prosecution goes on to say that after the 2016 election, Trump repaid Cohen in monthly installments disguised as attorney’s fees. Cohen has since served prison time for his role in the alleged scheme.
Trump pleaded not guilty to the 34 charges in April. Trump requested the case be moved to federal court, arguing that if any actions were taken they would have been done in his official presidential capacity and therefore only subject to trial in federal court. Trump also argued that he has immunity under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution. US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein rejected both arguments, ruling that the case would stay in New York state court.
This is only one of many legal troubles plaguing Trump as he begins his 2024 run for President. Trump is facing charges in Florida for his handling and retention of classified documents; has stated he received a letter regarding potential prosecution for his involvement in the January 6th insurrection; is facing a grand jury in Georgia over his response to his election loss in 2020; is facing a civil defamation lawsuit from author E. Jean Carroll whom he accused of lying about her sexual assault at Trump’s hands; and his company is embroiled in Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charges against three business associates with his eponymous Trump Media & Technology Group Corporation (TMTG).
Trump is set to stand trial in New York State Court on March 25, 2024. He has repeatedly criticized Judge Juan Manuel Merchan, the judge currently set to try the case.
