Three House Committee Chairs Threaten to Subpoena Bragg Over Trump Investigation

By Matis Glenn

Three prominent GOP Congressmembers threatened to subpoena Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg on Saturday, over the latter’s investigation into former President Donald Trump, according to NY1.

The letter, signed by House Oversight Committee chair James Comer, R-Ky., House Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and House Administration Committee Chair Bryan Steil, R-Wis., followed a request from the representatives that Bragg voluntarily testify before Congress.

“We believe that we now must consider whether Congress should take legislative action to protect former and/or current Presidents from politically motivated prosecutions by state and local officials, and if so, how those protections should be structured,” the letter read. “Critically, due to your own actions, you are now in possession of information critical to this inquiry.”

Bragg is investigating Trump over payments made during his 2016 presidential campaign to protect himself from potentially harmful information; one of the charges, relating to falsifying business records, could carry a jail sentence if the former president were convicted.

“It is not appropriate for Congress to interfere with pending local investigations,” Bragg said in a statement Saturday, in response to the letter. “This unprecedented inquiry by federal elected officials into an ongoing matter serves only to hinder, disrupt and undermine the legitimate work of our dedicated prosecutors.”

Republicans have said that the investigation should reach the federal level, as it involves allegations pertaining to election financing.

“We’re talking about a federal election crime here,” Comer told CNN on Sunday. “The Manhattan DA does not write federal election law.”

“This is something that if it needs to be investigated or prosecuted, it should be done on the federal level by the Department of Justice,” Comer added.

Last Friday, a threatening letter with a powdery substance was delivered to Bragg’s office, but it was later determined by law enforcement not to be a dangerous substance.

At 1 a.m. Friday, Trump posted on his social media platform that should he be indicted, “potential death & destruction” would ensue.

Trump held a rally – the first of his 2024 campaign – Saturday night in Waco, Texas, where he told supporters, “You will be vindicated and proud and the thugs and criminals who are corrupting our justice system will be defeated, discredited and totally disgraced.”