Republicans are at it again with their antics as they parade a series of witnesses to lambast Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for being “soft on crime” in a hearing that took place on Monday. But let’s be real, we all know this is just a ploy to undercut the prosecutor’s charges against former President Donald Trump in relation to hush-money payments to an adult-film actress.
One of the main culprits leading the charge against Bragg is none other than the Trump-loving gym enthusiast, Jim Jordan. Jordan brazenly opened the hearing with a sharp attack on Bragg, claiming that he’s more interested in pursuing a “radical political agenda” than actually upholding the law. The irony is not lost on us, Jim.
Before the circus even began, Democrats were already labeling it as a political stunt. They decried the proceedings as a farce that seeks to undermine what Bragg has described as “the safest big city in America”. But you know what they say, Republicans gonna Republican.
Jordan brought forward a series of witnesses who had been victims of crime and had grievances against Bragg. One of them was Jose Alba, a former bodega clerk who was arrested and charged with second-degree murder after fatally stabbing an assailant inside his shop in Harlem. Though the charges were later dropped, Alba claims the episode has left him traumatized and unable to work. Poor guy, it’s almost like he needs a hug… or a good lawyer.
Among the witnesses were anti-crime activists who’ve been featured on conservative media, as well as Robert F. Holden, a Democrat on the New York City Council who has been critical of Bragg’s policies. Who knew that Republicans could find a Democrat they like?
As the hearing went on, several of the GOP witnesses elicited applause as they criticized Bragg. It feels like a bad stand-up comedy routine. Outside the room, protesters held signs that read, “Jim Jordan Assaulted Democracy”, “Jim Jordan Insurrectionist”, and “Indict Jim Jordan”. We have to hand it to them, they sure know how to come up with creative chants.
New York Mayor Eric Adams and Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) criticized Jordan for what they perceived as a massive waste of taxpayer resources. This hearing, they claimed, was all about protecting Trump, and Jordan was acting as an extension of the Trump defense team. The irony is that it’s not even a good defense, considering the number of charges Trump is facing.
The hearing included claims and counterclaims about crime in Manhattan. Jim Kessler, senior vice president for policy at the think tank Third Way, pointed out that New York City is not only safer than most large cities in America but also safer than most cities of any size. It’s almost like the Republicans don’t want to hear about facts and statistics since it doesn’t fit their narrative.
Some of the GOP witnesses complained that Bragg is too willing to cut lenient plea deals for perpetrators of violent crime. One of these was Madeline Brame, who became an advocate for crime victims after losing her son to a gang assault. While we sympathize with Brame’s loss, it’s hard to take her claims seriously when she’s being paraded around by a party that’s more interested in sensationalizing her loss for their political gain.
The back and forth between Jordan and Bragg has become an escalating fight over the case against Trump. Jordan demanded materials related to the district attorney’s investigation into the hush money payments, which Bragg’s office rebuffed. After Jordan persisted by trying to subpoena a former Bragg associate, Bragg filed a federal lawsuit against him. It’s almost like they’re in a never-ending game of “he-said-she-said,” except it’s more like “he-screamed-she-screamed.”
Jordan’s demands of Bragg’s office have drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, who pointed out that Jordan ignored a subpoena from the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. It almost feels like Jordan is trying to stir up trouble for the sake of it. Meanwhile, Trump awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which ranks up there with giving a participation trophy for being part of his defense team in the first Senate impeachment trial.
In sum, the hearing was less of a discussion and more of a mudslinging match. It seems that the Republicans are more interested in smearing Bragg than dealing with the actual issue at hand. But hey, we’re not experts on politics, we just know a dumpster fire when we see one.
Serious News: washingtonpost
