In a new report, the House Judiciary GOP requests ‘an honest review of the facts and law’ surrounding President Trump’s ‘hush money’ case, which they explain should inevitably lead to appellate courts overturning the verdict. The report accuses Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Judge Juan Merchan of collaborating to undermine Trump’s constitutional and legal rights.
The report, titled “Lawfare: How the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and a New York State Judge Violated the Constitutional and Legal Rights of President Donald J. Trump,” spans 35 pages and provides an interim assessment of the committee's investigation, which began in March 2023.
The committee claims Bragg’s prosecution of Trump was driven by political motives and opened the door for future politically motivated prosecutions of former presidents or current candidates. The report details several alleged legal and procedural defects in Bragg’s case against Trump.
Key findings include the assertion that Bragg employed an unprecedented and unconstitutional theory of criminal liability that did not require jury unanimity beyond a reasonable doubt for each element of the alleged offenses. The committee also criticizes the Biden administration for not intervening to protect federal interests when Bragg sought to prosecute alleged violations of federal campaign finance laws.
The report highlights Judge Merchan’s rulings, accusing him of bias against Trump. It notes that Merchan did not recuse himself despite potential conflicts of interest and imposed a gag order on Trump, preventing him from discussing court staff or witnesses. Furthermore, the committee argues that Merchan admitted irrelevant and prejudicial testimony against Trump while denying his request to present certain defenses.
The committee's findings suggest that Trump clearly did not receive a fair trial in Manhattan due to political pressures and biases within the judicial process. They argue that in a neutral jurisdiction, Trump would not have been found guilty.
Additionally, the report criticizes the vague nature of the charges against Trump, claiming he was deprived of a fair opportunity to defend himself. It points out that the underlying crime alleged by prosecutors was not clearly defined, leaving Trump unable to mount a proper defense.
The House Judiciary Committee is calling for an honest review of the facts and laws involved, suggesting that such a review would likely lead appellate courts to overturn the conviction and dismiss the indictment. They emphasize that this action is necessary to restore public trust in the justice system.
Trump, found guilty on all counts, was initially scheduled for sentencing on July 11, just before the Republican National Convention. However, his sentencing has been delayed until September 18 following his motion to overturn the conviction based on a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, which grants former presidents substantial immunity for official acts performed while in office.
Read the interim report here.
