Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg finds himself embroiled in legal troubles as two lawsuits have been filed against him, accusing him of failing to comply with state Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests. These requests sought information regarding potential communications between his office, the Justice Department, the White House, and Democrat lawmakers concerning the prosecution of former President Donald Trump.
Bragg made headlines in March when he indicted Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. This move came after an extensive investigation into hush-money payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign. Bragg alleges that Trump falsified New York business records to conceal damaging information and unlawful activity related to the election.
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C., has taken legal action against Bragg. Their lawsuits assert suspicions of coordination or communication between Bragg’s office and the Justice Department, the White House, and Representative Daniel Goldman, a Democrat from New York. Heritage claims that such actions prompted investigations by multiple U.S. House committees into Bragg’s conduct.
The foundation’s filings express concern over the alleged coordinated efforts to weaponize the criminal justice system against Trump, reminiscent of previous instances involving his political opponents. The first lawsuit seeks answers to these questions that have thus far gone unanswered. The second lawsuit alleges that Bragg and his team sought pro bono assistance from major law firms specializing in white-collar litigation. Heritage demands the release of requested documents under the New York Freedom of Information Law, along with a declaration and a bar on seeking costs and fees.
Heritage accuses Bragg of stonewalling their requests for communications between the suspected parties, which they assert their right to see under New York’s FOIL laws. Mike Howell, director of Heritage’s Oversight Project, suggests that Bragg was coordinating or communicating with Trump’s political opposition. Howell notes the irony of Bragg’s pursuit of Trump on a “loony theory” about document retention while allegedly failing to maintain his own documents in violation of information laws.
Happening Now: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is being sued by conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation for refusing to hand over records he claims he lost, even though he’s prosecuting trump for a record keeping violation!
The Heritage Foundation said they… pic.twitter.com/HiFg6pAW26
— 🇺🇸Travis🇺🇸 (@Travis_in_Flint) June 20, 2023
While Bragg’s office did not respond immediately to Fox News Digital’s request for comment, the lawsuits against him underscore a growing controversy. Critics argue that Bragg’s handling of these FOIL requests and his alleged failure to provide requested documents indicate a dual standard of justice and waste taxpayer dollars. The legal battles are likely to intensify, further clouding the district attorney’s reputation and raising questions about his office’s transparency and adherence to the law.
