Trump drops appeal to move Stormy Daniels hush money case to federal court

Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday dropped his effort to move his criminal prosecution over hush money paid to porn actress Stormy Daniels into federal court.

His attorneys asked the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to dismiss Trump's appeal of a ruling that declined to move the case from state court into federal court.

The filing Tuesday did not give a reason but sought "to dismiss his appeal in this case."

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.

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.

The Manhattan DA declined to comment.