Jordan expands probe into Manhattan DA with testimony requests from former prosecutors

Home Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) expanded his investigation into Manhattan District Lawyer Alvin Bragg’s (D) dealing with of a hush cash probe into former President Trump, requesting testimony from two prosecutors who resigned from the New York case over disagreements with Bragg.

Jordan on Wednesday despatched letters to Mark Pomerantz, former New York County Particular Assistant District Lawyer, and Carey Dunne, former Manhattan Particular Assistant District Lawyer, each of whom resigned from Bragg’s Trump investigation in February 2022 as a result of they disagreed with the district lawyer’s reluctance to try to indict Trump on the second grand jury that had been empaneled within the case.

The Judiciary chair is requesting that they testify throughout a transcribed interview “as quickly as potential,” and hand over paperwork and communications.

“Final yr, you resigned from the workplace over Bragg’s preliminary reluctance to maneuver ahead with fees, shaming Bragg in your resignation letter — which was subsequently leaked — into bringing fees,” Jordan wrote to Pomerantz. “Based mostly in your distinctive function on this matter, and your subsequent public statements prejudicing the impartiality of any prosecution, we request your cooperation with our oversight of this politically motivated prosecutorial choice.”

In a letter to Dunne, Jordan famous that he resigned due to “Bragg’s preliminary reluctance to maneuver ahead with fees in 2022,” and that Bragg “is now trying to ‘shoehorn’ the identical case with equivalent information into a brand new prosecution.”

The letters to Pomerantz and Dunne comply with Jordan main a request together with Home Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Home Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) for testimony and paperwork from Bragg himself after Trump stated over the weekend that he could be arrested on Tuesday in reference to the probe over a $130,000 fee to grownup movie star Stormy Daniels. However Bragg’s workplace has not introduced any indictment, and Bragg canceled a Wednesday assembly of a New York grand jury weighing an indictment.

Republicans throughout the board have backed up Trump’s outrage a few “witch hunt,” accusing Bragg of being political.

Democrats have lashed out on the Home GOP probe, with Home Oversight rating member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) saying in a press release late Monday it’s “an astonishing and unprecedented abuse of energy” and will “impede a potential felony indictment.”

Bragg turned Manhattan District Lawyer in January 2022. On the finish of February, Pomerantz and Dunne resigned from the workplace as a result of, as reported by The New York Occasions, Bragg had expressed doubts about persevering with the Trump case.

The Occasions revealed Pomerantz’s resignation letter in March, by which he stated he believed Trump was “responsible of quite a few felony violations” in connection to his annual Statements of Monetary Situation. Pomerantz famous that Bragg determined to not search felony fees within the case, writing “I imagine that your choice to not prosecute Donald Trump now, and on the prevailing report, is misguided and fully opposite to the general public curiosity. I due to this fact can’t proceed in my present place.”

“I concern that your choice implies that Mr. Trump won’t be held absolutely accountable for his crimes. I’ve labored too exhausting as a lawyer, and for too lengthy, now to change into a passive participant in what I imagine to be a grave failure of justice,” he added. “I due to this fact resign from my place as a Particular Assistant District Lawyer, efficient instantly.”

Jordan cited the resignation letter in his communication to Pomerantz on Wednesday night time, whereas additionally noting his memoir that accused Bragg of mismanaging the probe, and his post-DA work at a legislation agency with Dunne. The agency is concentrated on defending democracy and particular person rights.

“It now seems that your efforts to disgrace Bragg have labored as he’s reportedly resurrecting a so-called ‘zombie’ case in opposition to President Trump utilizing a tenuous and untested authorized principle,” he wrote to each Pomerantz and Dunne.

“Your actions, each as a particular prosecutor and since leaving the District Lawyer’s workplace, forged critical doubt on the administration of truthful and neutral justice on this matter,” he later added in each letters.