House Republicans have launched an investigation into the potential indictment of former President Donald Trump, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s team has responded with a defiant public message. The GOP lawmakers demanded records and testimony from the prosecutor, who is investigating Trump over alleged hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election cycle. The investigation has been condemned by Democrats, who argue that Congress has no jurisdiction to investigate a state district attorney, who receives no federal funding nor has any other federal nexus.
In a letter from House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, and House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg
“An unprecedented abuse of prosecutorial authority: the indictment of a former President of the United States and current declared candidate for that office.”
Rep. Jordan would then go on to add:
“Democrats think it’s ok for them to examine and defund local police. But not ok for Republicans to examine a local prosecutor in Manhattan abusing his power to take down a political opponent.”
In response to the Republican investigation, a spokesperson for Bragg stated that they will not be intimidated by attempts to undermine the justice process and that they will follow the law without fear or favor to uncover the truth. The spokesperson also expressed the belief that the allegations against Trump are politically motivated and denied any wrongdoing.
“We will not be intimidated by attempts to undermine the justice process, nor will we let baseless accusations deter us from fairly applying the law,”
“In every prosecution, we follow the law without fear or favor to uncover the truth. Our skilled, honest and dedicated lawyers remain hard at work.”
The investigation centers on a charge of bookkeeping fraud to cover up an alleged affair, which Trump denies happened. The former president claims that Bragg’s inquiry is politically motivated and has called on his supporters to protest. He also stated that he expects to be arrested on Tuesday, although a spokesperson for Trump later said that he had received no notification other than “illegal leaks” to the media.
It remains uncertain what a possible indictment against Trump will look like, but there is widespread expectation that it would be centered on the charge of bookkeeping fraud. The investigation has drawn criticism from both sides of the political spectrum, with Democrats arguing that it is politically motivated and Republicans accusing Bragg of abusing his power to take down a political opponent.
