House Democrat leads rally backing Manhattan DA's Trump probe
NEW YORK — A House Democrat stepped into the fray around Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s investigation of Donald Trump, holding a rally in support of the progressive prosecutor Monday after his Republican counterparts demanded information about the probe.
“We are here to say let the process continue and no one is above the law, not even a president of the United States,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat, who represents Upper Manhattan, at a Harlem rally attended by a dozen other local Democratic leaders.
On Saturday Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), James Comer (R-Ky.) and Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) — the chairs of the Judiciary, Oversight and Administration Committees, respectively — sent a letter to Bragg setting a March 31 deadline for documents from his office about possible federal funding or involvement in his work. They also want Bragg to testify in private. The asks are voluntary since the Republican leaders have not issued a subpoena.
Bragg fired back on Twitter Saturday saying it was “not appropriate for Congress to interfere with pending local investigations.”
The exchange came after Trump predicted “potential death & destruction” if the grand jury hearing evidence about his alleged role in a 2016 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels votes to indict the former president.
“What Trump is doing is actually a threat to the DA and his family. We are here to say these threats are unacceptable and the case must move forward,” said City Council Member Julie Menin, a Manhattan Democrat.
The grand jury, which meets in secret as required by the law, was expected to reconvene this week after a two-day break in the proceedings. The panel typically sits Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and could vote on an indictment as early as this week.
On Friday an envelope containing white powder was sent to Bragg’s lower Manhattan office. It was deemed non-hazardous.