Former President Donald Trump has ended his legal effort to move his New York hush money case to federal court.

Trump's lawyers stated on Wednesday that they were dropping the appeal to federal court in the case scheduled for March of next year.

Donald Trump has given up on his monthslong fight to move his New York hush-money criminal case to federal court, agreeing to proceed in a state court that he contends is “very unfair” to him. https://t.co/JxblcbcwLh

— KTVN 2 News (@KTVN) November 16, 2023

The details

"They appealed in June after U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein ruled that Trump had failed to meet a high legal bar to move the case," the Associated Press reported.

"U.S. law allows criminal prosecutions to be moved from state to federal court if they involve actions taken by federal government officials as part of their official duties. Hellerstein ruled that the hush-money case involved a personal matter, not presidential duties," it added.

Trump drops appeal to move Manhattan hush money case to federal court https://t.co/Gmykyh6ASu

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) November 16, 2023

The background

"The former president tried moving his case from state to federal court, but a judge ruled against him in July," the Washington Examiner reported.

"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. Trump also has failed to show that he has a colorable federal defense to the Indictment," Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein ruled in July.

Former Pres. Trump drops appeal to move Stormy Daniels hush money case to federal court. https://t.co/8kfNq2PWHl

— ABC News (@ABC) November 14, 2023

The latest

"Trump in April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments made to the adult film actress days before the 2016 presidential election," ABC News reported.

"The former president has denied all wrongdoing. Judge Juan Merchan has tentatively set trial for March 25 but he has signaled a willingness to move the date in order to avoid a conflict with other Trump criminal cases," it noted.

Trump's case involving Stormy Daniels is in addition to his current New York fraud case involving his company in trial this week in Manhattan.

The former president also faces upcoming trials in cases in Washington, Georgia, and Florida.

The ongoing legal battles add to tensions as Trump continues his 2024 presidential campaign which currently shows him ahead in polls against other GOP candidates and in many polls against President Joe Biden.