A reliable source informed The Epoch Times on Tuesday about the latest developments.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and a senior prosecutor are scheduled to testify before the Republican-led House committee in July, as confirmed by a source familiar with the situation to The Epoch Times on Tuesday.
Mr. Bragg will be appearing before the House Select Committee on Weaponization alongside Michael Colangelo, a former Department of Justice (DOJ) official who spearheaded the investigation into former President Donald Trump, according to an individual familiar with the discussions, confirming reports of their appearance on July 12.
Later that same Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Manhattan district attorney’s office confirmed the developments with a statement.
“The Manhattan DA’s Office is proud to have a significant role in upholding and enforcing the rule of law for the people of New York,” the statement read. “It is detrimental to the rule of law to spread dangerous misinformation, baseless claims, and conspiracy theories following the jury’s decision in People v. Trump.” “Nevertheless, we respect our government institutions and intend to appear voluntarily before the subcommittee after sentencing,” the statement added.
In late May, former President Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal payments made to an adult film performer during the 2016 presidential campaign, allegations he denied. He is set to be sentenced on July 11.
Last week, Mr. Bragg’s office sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee confirming cooperation with their investigation but noted that former President Trump has yet to be sentenced. The letter also sought clarification on the scope of Mr. Bragg’s testimony.
Mr. Bragg, a former civil rights lawyer and law professor, is serving his first term as Manhattan’s district attorney and assumed the Trump case upon his election in 2021. Previously, he collaborated on Trump-related matters with Mr. Colangelo during their tenure at the New York attorney general’s office.
During the trial, Mr. Colangelo delivered the opening statement and examined multiple witnesses in relation to the Trump case.
Several Republicans, including House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), have suggested that Mr. Colangelo’s hiring in late 2022—several months prior to the former president being indicted by Mr. Bragg’s office—implies collusion between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Manhattan district attorney’s office in the case. The DOJ has refuted these allegations, including in a letter addressed to Mr. Jordan on Tuesday.
Mr. Bragg’s chief counsel, Leslie Dubeck, stated in a letter that there were “scheduling conflicts” but indicated Mr. Bragg’s willingness to testify under certain conditions.
“This Office is committed to voluntary cooperation,” Ms. Dubeck wrote in a letter dated June 7. “This cooperation includes making the District Attorney available to provide testimony on behalf of the Office at an agreed-upon date, and evaluating the propriety of allowing an Assistant District Attorney to testify publicly about an active prosecution to which he is assigned.”
The previous letter from the Republican-controlled Judiciary Committee also failed to clarify the “scope of the proposed testimony” from Mr. Bragg, a Democrat elected to office, according to Ms. Dubeck.
“As with the prior inquiries from this Committee, we look forward to discussing with committee staff how the Office may be able to accommodate the Committee’s invitation, while also protecting the integrity of an ongoing criminal prosecution and New York’s sovereign interests,” the letter continued.
Mr. Jordan has consistently criticized Mr. Bragg’s prosecution of the former president, reiterating in early June during a Fox News interview his belief that the Manhattan district attorney campaigned on a promise to prosecute the former president.
“We found none. This is not surprising. The District Attorney’s office is a distinct entity from the Department. The Department does not oversee the work of the District Attorney’s office, does not approve its charging decisions, and does not litigate its cases,” the DOJ stated in a letter to House Republicans. “The Department has no authority over the District Attorney, just as the District Attorney has no authority over the Department. The Committee is aware of this fact.”
In addition to Manhattan, former President Trump faces charges in Washington, Florida, and Fulton County, Georgia, related to various alleged crimes. The former president has pleaded not guilty to these charges.
The Epoch Times reached out to the Manhattan district attorney’s office for comment on Tuesday.
Jackson Richman contributed to this report.
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