Former Democratic New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has publicly criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg over his focus on potentially prosecuting former President Donald Trump. Cuomo suggested that the move is politically motivated, saying, “I don’t understand why Bragg is putting such emphasis on this case.”
Cuomo voiced his concerns during a WABC Radio interview on Friday night. He argued that while he understands the need to prosecute individuals who break the law, he believes the case against Trump should be pursued as a federal, rather than state, case.
Public Cynicism and Political Cases
Cuomo went on to say that the public is generally “cynical,” and when they see prosecutors bringing political cases, it “affirms everybody’s cynicism.” He added, “I think it’s all politics and that’s what I think the people of this country are saying. It just feeds that anger and that cynicism and the partisanship.”
The former governor further questioned whether the pursuit of Trump by various prosecutors, including Bragg, was merely a coincidence. He suggested that these actions contribute to the cynicism and partisanship that plague the nation’s political landscape.
Cuomo Predicts Indictment, Questions Motivation
Despite his criticism of Bragg’s motives, Cuomo believes an indictment will be handed down next week. He referred to the old adage that district attorneys can “indict a ham sandwich” if they want to, implying that the decision to prosecute is often driven by personal motivations.
Bragg has faced widespread criticism from Republicans for his attempt to indict Trump in connection with the alleged “hush money” payments to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016. Many legal experts have concluded that the case is weak and politically motivated.
House Republicans Demand Bragg Testify
Top House Republicans have demanded in the form of a letter that Bragg testify to Congress about the indictment and turn over documents related to the case. They warned that the indictment could “erode confidence in the evenhanded application of justice and unalterably interfere in the course of the 2024 presidential election.”
In response, Bragg’s office remained defiant, stating, “we will not be intimidated by attempts to undermine the justice process nor will we let baseless accusations deter us from fairly applying the law.” Bragg sent a letter to the Republicans, arguing that their inquiry was “an unlawful incursion into New York’s sovereignty.”
Republicans pushed back with another letter on Saturday, claiming that their actions have a legislative purpose and noting that Bragg did not deny their accusations of political motivation in the case.
