The House Judiciary Committee is set to hear from individuals affected by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's policies during a hearing in New York, escalating tensions between the committee and the progressive prosecutor over his groundbreaking criminal case against former President Donald Trump, according to sources.
The hearing, scheduled for 9 a.m. on Monday, April 17, will be held at the Jacob Javits Federal Building, only a short distance from Bragg's Lower Manhattan office and the courthouse where Trump was arraigned on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
Sources have revealed that the hearing will focus on "New York's rampant crime and victims of Alvin Bragg." Bragg has faced criticism from Republicans for being lenient on conventional crime while pursuing an unprecedented legal case against a former president.
Although it is unclear whether committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) will invite Bragg to the hearing, sources have not ruled out the possibility. The hearing is expected to feature testimony from those affected by Bragg's "failure to prosecute," though the anticipated witness list has not yet been disclosed.
Before indicting Trump, Bragg, a Democrat, reduced the severity of charges against numerous offenders. From the start of his term on January 1, 2022, through late November, Bragg downgraded 52% of felony cases to misdemeanors. Additionally, his office only secured convictions in 51% of felony cases, with both percentages being lower than in previous years.
Bragg has also faced controversy for charging bodega clerk Jose Alba with second-degree murder after he fatally stabbed an ex-convict who assaulted him inside the store. The case was eventually dropped in July, following a public outcry.
The DA has refused to comply with document requests from three House committees related to the Trump case, which he claims is "politically motivated." Last week, Chairman Jordan subpoenaed attorney Mark Pomerantz, who authored a book advocating for Trump's prosecution and resigned from Bragg's office over a disagreement regarding a different financial crimes case.
Trump was charged with allegedly misrepresenting hush-money payments in internal company records leading up to the 2016 election. Although this offense would typically be classified as a misdemeanor in New York, it can be elevated to a felony if there is intent to conceal or commit another crime, such as campaign finance violations.