House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) is calling for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) and his legal team to testify before Congress following the conviction of former President Donald Trump earlier this week. The move came as many Republicans, including the former president himself, sharply criticized the verdict.
Jordan wrote a letter to Bragg and prosecutor Matthew Colangelo, requesting that they testify before Congress later this month.
“This hearing will examine actions by state and local prosecutors to engage politically motivated prosecutions of federal officials, in particular the recent political prosecution of President Donald Trump by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office,” the letter read.
Following the verdict, Bragg said that his legal team embodied “the finest traditions” of his office and called them “model public servants.”
Jordan said that both Bragg and Colangelo’s conduct demonstrated political motives behind the prosecution. Jordan said that Republicans would “keep our foot on the gas.”
Jordan cited Colangelo’s former roles in the office of New York Attorney General Tish James (D) and for the Biden administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ).
He further said that Bragg campaigned against the former president and previously said that he originally did not plan to prosecute Trump. Jordan said that the decision to prosecute the former president happened after Trump announced he would seek the White House again.
Jordan also cited the prosecution cases against Trump by special counsel Jack Smith and Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis (D).
He said that House Republicans’ “constitutional duty” is oversight.
Jordan also argued that the prosecutions of the former president originated from the Biden administration. His comments followed similar arguments from Trump himself during a press event Friday.
Trump calls judge ‘a devil,’ slams Michael Cohen despite gag order and claims ‘nothing ever happened’ with Stormy Daniels https://t.co/8pQTZW0moo pic.twitter.com/mjgcSrcY0H
— New York Post (@nypost) May 31, 2024
Trump spoke about several issues during the event. He argued that New York Judge Juan Merchan was “conflicted” and cited concern that Bragg’s office was receiving orders from the White House.
He also said that he sought to testify but argued that he was afraid that the prosecution would accuse him of committing perjury.
