NEW YORK (AP) – Dismissing allegations that he lost interest in Donald Trump, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Thursday that criminal investigations into the former president and his business practices continue “without fear. or favor. ” The latest changes in the leadership of the investigation.
In a rare public statement, Bragg denied that the three -year investigation would end or that the grand jury’s mandate would end this month, preventing his office from filing a complaint.
Citing confidentiality policies, the district attorney said he could not discuss the details of the investigation, but promised to make the findings public when it is over.
“In recent weeks, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has repeatedly asked if our investigation into former President Donald J. Jr. continues. “About Trump, the Trump organization and its leadership,” Breg wrote. “This is.”
The democratic confirmation of the investigation was part of a double dose of legal bad news for Trump on Thursday.
It came shortly after the New York Attorney General asked a judge to defraud Trump and fine him $ 10,000 a day for failing to meet the March 31 deadline for serving documents in conjunction with the civil investigation. addresses Trump’s Inquiry for his testimony In this investigation, but not in one requiring him to submit documents.
“The judge’s order is very clear: Donald J.” Trump should call and deliver the relevant documents to my office, ”Attorney General Leticia James said.“ Instead of following the court order, Trump is trying to avoid it. We ask the court to intervene immediately, because no one is above the law ”.
Trump’s lawyer, Alina Hubb, called James’ request for sanctions “unfair and unreasonable” and said the former president had “consistently complied with numerous revelations” from his office in the past. years.
Bragg’s statement was the district attorney’s first public comment on Trump’s investigation after the two men leading it, Mark Pomeranz and Carrie Dunn, resigned on Feb. 23 because of a dispute over the direction of the case.
Pomeranc, a former Mafia prosecutor, wrote in the resignation letter that he believes Trump was “guilty of committing multiple crimes,” but Bragg, who inherited the investigation when he took office in January, decided not to file a lawsuit. cases.
Pomerantz said in the letter: The New York Times published it last month that there was “sufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to prove Mr. Trump’s guilt” on allegations of falsification of balances to obtain loans and expose the image of a wealthy businessman.
“I believe your decision not to prosecute Donald Trump today and based on the existing record is wrong and completely against the public interest,” Pomeranz wrote.
Bragg’s silence following his resignation and the publication of Pomeranc’s letter on March 23 laid the foundation for the narrative that the investigation was actually dead.
After Pomeranc and Dan left, Trump’s lawyer Robert Fischet told The Associated Press: “I am a very happy person. In my opinion, this investigation is over ”.
Pomerantz and Dunnie began the investigation into former District Attorney Cyrus Wens Jr.
Pomerantz wrote that Vance instructed them to file charges against Trump and the other defendants “as soon as possible,” but Bragg came to a different conclusion after looking at the evidence.
Vance and Bragg are Democrats. No former president has been charged with the crime.
In his statement Thursday, Bragg sought to reverse the narrative and warned Trump that he would not disturb it, assuring supporters who partially supported him as he vowed to continue investigations into the former president, a Republican.
Bragg said the investigation was being conducted by a “team of honest and experienced career prosecutors” led by his investigator, Susan Hoffinger, and that they were “reviewing the papers, reading witnesses and evaluating of evidence that has not been examined before. ” “
“In line with a long and proud tradition of prosecuting white-collar workers in the Manhattan district attorney’s office, we investigate and look into the facts in depth without fear or favor,” Bragg said.
Trump called the investigation a “tail chase” with political motives.
So far, the three-year investigation has only led to allegations of tax fraud against Trump’s company, the Trump Organization, and its longtime CFO, Allen Weisselberg, for lucrative perks like rent, car payments, and education. They have not sinned.
Weiselberg’s lawyers filed court documents in February asking the judge to dismiss his case, arguing that prosecutors viewed him as a punishment because he failed to pass the former president.
Trump named a potential threat from the criminal case as he appealed a decision requiring him to answer questions under oath during James ’civil investigation.
Trump’s lawyers argue that James, who hired two lawyers in the criminal case, uses a civil deposition mask to circumvent state law that prohibits prosecutors from summoning someone to a grand jury without giving them a immunity.
James, a Democrat, said his investigation found evidence that Trump may have represented the value of assets such as golf courses and skyscrapers in his financial statements for more than a decade.
Bragg said his career and prospects have been shaped by “complex and complex investigations,” including a lawsuit he handled as deputy attorney general that led to the Trump Charitable Foundation being closed on allegations of its use for his political interests. development. And commercial interests.
“Prosecutors who do their job cannot and simply will not make‘ slam dunk ’cases,” Breg wrote. “On the contrary, all lawsuits must be initiated for a just cause, that is, it needs justice. It’s something I’ve done throughout my career, no matter how easy or difficult it is. “
The Grand Jury, which met during Trump’s investigation last fall, has not met regularly for several months and its term is likely to expire soon, but Breg said the Manhattan Grand Jury is constantly sitting and “no magic”. Any previously reported date. “
“In the meantime, we are not discussing our investigative stages. We will also not discuss grand jury issues ”. Breg wrote. In other words, as we have already said, the investigation is ongoing.
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Source: Huffpost
