Manhattan DA Chickens Out
On Thursday, Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan District Attorney and a Democrat, responded to a statement made by former President Donald Trump. The former president claimed that he would be arrested for his involvement in a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Bragg dismissed this statement as a “false expectation” created by Trump.
According to The Hill, In a letter addressed to Congress, Bragg pushed back against House Republicans who were demanding his testimony and the release of all documents and communication related to the ongoing case. Bragg stated that this demand was an unprecedented intrusion into a local prosecution that was still ongoing.
“The letter only came after Donald Trump created a false expectation that he would be arrested the next day and his lawyers reportedly urged you to intervene,” Bragg said in a letter.
On the weekend, Trump posted on Truth Social that he anticipated being arrested on Tuesday as part of an investigation. However, as of Thursday morning, no charges have been disclosed, and the grand jury responsible for the case is not expected to convene for the remainder of the week.
Trump wrote on Saturday that “illegal leaks” suggest that the top Republican candidate and former President of the United States will be arrested on Tuesday of the following week.
After Trump’s call, a group of three House Republican chairmen promptly demanded Bragg’s testimony on Monday ahead of his expected prosecution of Trump regarding the pre-election hush money payment in 2016. On the same day, Robert Costello, a last-minute witness who is also an attorney and a Trump ally, appeared before the grand jury.
Bragg responded to Trump’s concerns about a potential arrest in a detailed statement, explaining that he could not disclose any information about the investigation as it may violate the confidentiality of all parties involved, including potential defendants such as Trump.
While it may be too soon to tell right now, it appears that Bragg has decided to no longer have Trump arrested.
