Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg accused Republicans of “unlawful political interference” following the indictment of former President Trump.
Before the indictment was announced Thursday, some top House Republicans demanded documents and testimony from the sealed grand jury case against the 2024 Republican presidential candidate.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), along with the chairmen of the Administration and Oversight committees, also insisted that Bragg testifies before congress, Fox News reports.
Following the indictment, Bragg’s office’s general counsel Leslie B. Dubeck slammed the GOP leaders, calling their efforts an “illegal incursion on New York’s sovereign interests.”
A Manhattan grand jury voted to have the former president indicted based on allegations that Trump made a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels while he was running for president in 2016 in an effort to hide a past affair.
Trump has called the allegations a “debunked…witch hunt.” Additionally, many Republican leaders have said Bragg’s targeting of Trump is politically motivated.
In her letter, Dubeck argued Congress does not have the authority to request information surrounding Trump’s case. She also accused the GOP leaders of acting like Trump’s “criminal defense counsel.”
Dubeck wrote, “even worse, based on your reportedly close collaboration with Mr. Trump in attacking this Office and the grand jury process, it appears that you are acting more like criminal defense counsel trying to gather evidence for a client than a legislative body seeking to achieve a legitimate legislative objective.”
The general counsel then urged the GOP leaders to “refrain” from what she calls “inflammatory accusations” against Bragg.
In a statement following the indictment, Trump affirmed that he is “completely innocent.”
He added, “This is political persecution and election interference at the highest level in history.”
Trump is the first American president ever to be indicted on criminal charges.