Attorneys for former President Donald Trump on Thursday urged a Manhattan federal judge to keep the Manhattan District Attorney's criminal case against Trump in federal court, arguing that Trump qualifies as a federal officer with a colorable federal defense.

Trump removed the case to the Southern District of New York in early May, weeks after he was indicted on 34 counts of falsifying business counts in connection with an alleged scheme to pay hush money to the adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The former president pleaded not guilty.