The investigation of President Donald Trump’s hush-money payment made before the 2016 election by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has caught the attention of House Republicans, who are demanding his testimony. Led by House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, Republicans are concerned that Bragg’s impending indictment could be politically motivated and damage confidence in impartial justice ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
There are reports that House Republicans are seeking testimony from the Manhattan district attorney and members of his office who may soon prosecute President Donald Trump over a hush-money payment made before the 2016 election.
Fox News reports that House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Oh.) sent Bragg a letter demanding his testimony. According to Jordan, Bragg’s investigation of Trump “will erode confidence in the evenhanded application of justice and unalterably interfere in the court of the 2024 presidential election.”
Jordan’s letter continued, saying, “In light of the serious consequences of your actions, we expect that you will testify about what plainly appears to be a politically motivated prosecutorial decision.”
Congressman Jordan spoke about the letter on FOX News on Monday:
Jordan also stressed that Bragg’s “impending indictment is motivated by political calculations.”
Republicans have pointed out discrepancies between Bragg’s handling of Trump’s potential prosecution and his handling of other cases since taking office last year. The case involving President Trump has been upgraded from a misdemeanor to a felony under his jurisdiction. Meanwhile, fifty-two percent of all felony charges have been reduced to misdemeanors under his jurisdiction.
Jordan noted this in his letter to the district attorney, saying his “progressive criminal justice policies that allow career ‘criminals to run the streets’ of Manhattan requires congressional scrutiny about how public safety funds appropriated by Congress are implemented by local law-enforcement agencies.”
As part of Jordan’s request, Bragg must provide all records and communications between the Manhattan DA’s office and the Justice Department regarding Trump’s investigation. By March 23 at 10:00 a.m, Bragg must schedule his transcribed interview with the House Judiciary Committee.
Meanwhile, Congressman Jordan told reporters at a GOP conference in Orlando that Trump did not commit a crime.
Despite Democrats’ claims that Bragg is simply conducting a fair investigation, Republicans remain wary of his potential motives for prosecuting President Trump. It remains to be seen whether Bragg will testify to the House Judiciary Committee and, if so, how his testimony might affect the outcome of his investigation into Trump’s pre-election payments. Until then, it appears that House Republicans will continue their efforts to ensure that justice is applied impartially and without political motivation.
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