Wednesday's resignations of two key prosecutors in the Trump criminal fraud case with the Manhattan DA's office are raising real concerns about District Attorney Alvin Bragg's commitment to prosecuting the Malignant Loser. Resigned prosecutors Carey Dunne and Mark Pomerantz were considered experts in fraud cases. Bragg announced yesterday that they've been replaced by veteran litigator Susan Hoffinger:
"Bragg’s announcement Thursday follows the dramatic departure of Carey Dunne and Mark Pomerantz, whose resignations signaled a marked shift in the probe. Multiple people with knowledge of the matter said Dunne and Pomerantz felt Bragg, who took office Jan. 1, was not interested in pursuing a case against Trump and had not given them direction on how to proceed.
Bragg’s office has said the case, which he inherited from his predecessor, Cyrus R. Vance Jr. (D), is proceeding. On Thursday, his spokesperson said it was 'not true' that Bragg was unconcerned with advancing the matter." (our emphasis)
Riiight. Bragg, who was elected last fall after former DA Cyrus Vance Jr. retired, also inherits a grand jury that is due to expire this spring without an indictment against the Malignant Loser. Without Dunne and Pomerantz pushing the case against Trump, many fear Bragg's inertia will sink the case:
"The case gained significant notoriety under Vance as he fought to obtain Trump’s tax returns and related records — a drawn-out battle that was won at the Supreme Court. Since obtaining the records a year ago, prosecutors secured an indictment from a previous grand jury against the Trump Organization and its longtime chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, alleging 15-year tax fraud.
A second six-month grand jury that was expected to hear evidence for possible charges related to Trump Organization’s alleged practice of manipulating asset values was convened in the fall.
Vance had authorized his prosecutors to seek an indictment against Trump, two people with knowledge of the matter said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive process. But that did not happen before he left office at the end of the year." (our emphasis)
We're all for presenting an air-tight case against the slippery Malignant Loser, but waiting until another 6 month grand jury has to be convened is self-defeating, as they would have to be brought up to speed on a complex case. Alvin Bragg needs to demonstrate that he isn't slow-walking or sidelining the criminal case against the Malignant Loser. Perhaps he could take a lesson or two from New York State Attorney General Letitia James.
