Jim Jordan: What changed in Alvin Bragg's case against Trump?
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, discusses the delayed Trump indictment and concern about how the two-tiered system of justice is on full display in America on 'Hannity.'
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg responded to several leading House Republicans’ requests for information on the probe into former President Donald Trump, saying Trump "created a false expectation" that his arrest was imminent.
Bragg’s general counsel sent a five-page letter to GOP House committee chairmen Jim Jordan of Ohio, Bryan Steil of Wisconsin and James Comer of Kentucky regarding their request for documents and testimony in the Trump investigation.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s general counsel sent a five-page letter to GOP House committee chairmen Jim Jordan of Ohio, Bryan Steil of Wisconsin and James Comer of Kentucky regarding their request for documents and testimony in the Trump investigation. (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
The district attorney’s office said the investigation "is one of thousands conducted" by the office in its history and that Bragg "stands by his pledge" to release the conclusion of the investigation publicly.
"Your letter dated March 20, 2023 (the ‘Letter’), in contrast, is an unprecedented inquiry into a pending local prosecution," Bragg’s office wrote.
"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," the letter accused. "Neither fact is a legitimate basis for congressional inquiry."
Bragg’s office also called the lawmakers' requests "an unlawful incursion into New York’s sovereignty" as well as argued that "federal funding is an insufficient basis to justify these unconstitutional requests."
"The Letter indicates that its requests may be related to a review of federal public safety funds," Bragg's office wrote. "But the Letter does not suggest any way in which either the District Attorney’s testimony about his prosecutorial decisions or the documents and communications of former Assistant District Attorneys on a pending criminal investigation would shed light on that review."
"Nonetheless, to assist Congress in understanding the ways in which the DA’s Office has used federal funds, we are preparing and will submit a letter describing its use of federal funds," the office continued.
Bragg's letter comes as Jordan sent letters Wednesday to two former Manhattan DA office attorneys seeking information that could support a claim Bragg’s prosecution of Trump is politically motivated.
The attorneys, Mark Pomerantz and Carey Dunne, sought to prosecute Trump in 2022, but Bragg rejected their legal theories. They then resigned.
Since then, Trump announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election and Bragg has changed his decision on prosecuting him.
NY GRAND JURY NOT EXPECTED TO CONSIDER TRUMP CASE THURSDAY, SOURCE SAYS
Jordan has contended Bragg’s sudden change of heart was tied to the announcement and has criticized what he describes as an "unprecedented abuse of prosecutorial authority."
"This indictment comes after years of the District Attorney’s office aggressively pursuing charges, with you and other special prosecutors leading the investigation into every facet of President Trump’s finances. Last year, you resigned from the office over Bragg’s initial reluctance to move forward with charges in 2022, Bragg is now attempting to ‘shoehorn’ the same case with identical facts into a new prosecution," Jordan wrote.
In his letters, GOP House committee chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio requests all documents and communication between the Manhattan DA's office and the Department of Justice regarding the Trump investigation. He also requests all such documents and communications between the Manhattan DA's office and attorneys Mark Pomerantz and Carey Dunne. (Getty)
He added: "Based on your unique role in this matter, we request your cooperation with our oversight of this politically motivated prosecutorial decision."
In the letters, Jordan requests all documents and communication between the Manhattan DA's office and the Department of Justice regarding the Trump investigation. He also requests all such documents and communications between the Manhattan DA's office and attorneys Pomerantz and Dunne.
The Manhattan grand jury will not hear testimony, deliberate or vote on the hush-money case against former Trump on Thursday, a source has confirmed to Fox News.
Since the grand jury does not sit on Fridays, a vote on the Trump case is not expected this week, according to the source.
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A Trump arrest would be the first time a former president has been arrested in American history.
Only one other American president has been arrested: Ulysses S. Grant in 1872 for speeding in his horse-drawn carriage.
Fox News Digital's Lawrence Richard, Marta Dhanis, Brooke Singman and Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.
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