Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has agreed to testify before a Republican-led congressional subcommittee, though his appearance will likely be delayed until after President Trump's sentencing in July.
Bragg's decision comes in response to a request from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, who wrote to Bragg in late May following Trump's conviction in a hush money trial. Jordan accused Bragg of conducting a political prosecution and sought his testimony for a hearing scheduled on June 13.
In a reply letter, Leslie Dubeck, the general counsel for the Manhattan District Attorney's office, expressed their commitment to cooperate voluntarily.
However, Dubeck noted that the date proposed by Jordan conflicted with their schedule. She emphasized that the prosecution of Trump is ongoing. Trump's sentencing is set for July 11, with prosecutors expected to make punishment recommendations to the judge beforehand.
Bragg's office requested an opportunity to discuss an alternative date with the subcommittee and sought clarification on the “scope and purpose of the proposed hearing.”
Jordan has also sought testimony from Matthew Colangelo, a lead prosecutor in the Trump case. While Bragg's office did not rule out this request, it stated that it would need to “evaluate the propriety” of having an assistant district attorney testify publicly about an active prosecution.
Jordan has suggested withholding federal funds from any entity that attempts to prosecute a former president and has criticized what he calls the obvious weaponization of the federal government.
Previously, his committee managed to secure a deposition from Mark Pomerantz, a former prosecutor involved in Trump's case, despite Bragg's initial objections. However, Pomerantz's testimony was limited, as he declined to answer many questions, citing the potential risk of criminal prosecution for disclosing grand jury secrets.
