The House Judiciary Committee will conduct a field hearing on April 17 in New York City to investigate how the policies of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg have contributed to an increase in violent crime.
“We’ll be hosting this hearing next week from NYC. We’ll be hearing from victims who are suffering under DA Bragg’s pro-crime policies. If Bragg can spend resources indicting President [Donald] Trump, he should be able to address the soaring crime in NYC,” committee member Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona tweeted.
We'll be hosting this hearing next week from NYC.
We'll be hearing from victims who are suffering under DA Bragg's pro-crime policies.
If Bragg can spend resources indicting President Trump, he should be able to address the soaring crime in NYC. https://t.co/S2IegwdPT1
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) April 10, 2023
The New York Post reported that the field hearing, titled “Victims of Violent Crime in Manhattan,” will be held at the “Jacob Javits Federal Building just blocks from Bragg’s Lower Manhattan office and the courthouse where Trump, 76, was arraigned on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records last week.”
According to a source who spoke to the Post, Bragg himself may be invited to testify at the hearing.
Following his decision to prosecute former President Donald Trump, reportedly for hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal prior to the 2016 election, the DA’s judgment has been questioned.
Multiple legal experts have characterized Bragg’s case as feeble and transparently motivated by politics.
After last week’s hearing, Bragg told reporters that the case hinges on Trump falsifying business documents with the intent to conceal other offenses, which is a felony in New York.
However, the other offences are not listed in the indictment.
Bragg referenced a $130,000 payment made by former Trump personal attorney Michael Cohen to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election, but nondisclosure agreements are not unlawful. Daniels claims she had an intimate encounter with Trump in 2006.
The district attorney indicated Cohen’s payment, which was allegedly reimbursed by the Trump Organization, exceeded the federal contribution limit and was made to “promote a candidate through unlawful means” in accordance with New York state law.
The $130,000, however, did not go to Trump’s campaign, and the 2016 Republican presidential candidate may have had other motivations for not wanting Daniels’ allegation made public.
Federal prosecutors and the Federal Election Commission have already examined the payments and determined that no charges will be brought against Trump.
According to House Republicans, crime has increased by 22 percent in New York City since January 2022, when Bragg took office.
“Alvin Bragg’s radical pro-crime, anti-victim policies have led to an increase in violent crime in New York City,” House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan tweeted Monday.
Alvin Bragg’s radical pro-crime, anti-victim policies have led to an increase in violent crime in New York City.
Next week, the Judiciary Committee will examine these policies during a field hearing in Manhattan.
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) April 10, 2023
In felony cases, Bragg’s office had a conviction rate of 51%, down from 68% in 2019 under then-Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr.
In addition, Bragg’s prosecutors reduced felony charges to misdemeanors 52% of the time compared to 39% in 2019.
The Post reported that Bragg has refused to comply with document requests from three House committees regarding the Trump case, including requests for his office’s communications with the Department of Justice.