Despite the resignation of the investigation's two top prosecutors, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg says his office's criminal probe into the Trump Organization's business practices continuex "without fear or favor," the Associated Press reports. Bragg said his office's ability to bring charges is not hindered by the fact that a grand jury impaneled to consider the issue that has not met regularly for several months will end its term this month. He pledged to disclose findings of the probe. Bragg wrote, “In recent weeks, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has been repeatedly asked whether our investigation concerning former President Donald J. Trump, the Trump Organization, and its leadership is continuing. It is.” His statement came as New York Attorney General Letitia James asked a judge to hold Trump in contempt for failing to obey a court order in a civil probe by her office, the evidence from which might also be used by Bragg.
Bragg's clarification on the investigation was his first public word on the matter since his two top prosecutors working on the case, Mark Pomerantz and Carey Dunne, resigned on February 23. Pomerantz said Trump is “guilty of numerous felony violations,” but that Bragg was not seriously pursuing charges after taking over for former DA Cyrus Vance, Jr. this year. Pomerantz said that there was “evidence sufficient to establish Mr. Trump’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt” of allegations he falsified financial statements to secure loans and evade taxes to aid the Trump Organization. He told Bragg, “I believe that your decision not to prosecute Donald Trump now, and on the existing record, is misguided and completely contrary to the public interest." Bragg's silence gave rise to a belief that the investigation was effectively over, prompting Trump lawyer Robert Fischetti to say “I’m a very happy man. In my opinion, this investigation is over.”
Comentarios