Former President Donald Trump's request to move his New York hush money case to federal court has been rejected by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who ruled that Trump failed to demonstrate sufficient grounds for the transfer. Trump's legal team has appealed the decision to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, hoping to delay his sentencing, currently set for September 18. The judge asserted that the hush money payments were private acts, not linked to Trump's official duties, and dismissed claims of bias in the state trial as beyond his jurisdiction. Trump's legal strategy faces challenges as the case remains in state court, which could affect his presidential campaign ahead of the 2024 elections. The ruling emphasizes that the implications of the Supreme Court's presidential immunity decision do not apply to this case, as it involves personal conduct. As the situation develops, the Manhattan district attorney's office has expressed readiness to proceed with sentencing while addressing any post-trial motions.