Judge rejects Trump effort to move New York criminal case to federal court

A federal judge Wednesday denied former President Donald Trump's effort to move his New York State "hush money" criminal case to federal jurisdiction.

U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein wrote in his ruling that he didn't believe payments made to a former Trump attorney — which are at the center of the 34 New York State felony counts of falsification of business records — were tied to Trump's service as president.

"Trump has failed to show that the conduct charged by the indictment is for or relating to any act performed by or for the President under color of the official acts of a President," Hellerstein wrote. "Trump also has failed to show that he has a colorable federal defense to the indictment."