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Crime victims and their families pointed fingers Monday at Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his refusal to prosecute serious offenses as the root of the violent crime problem in the borough.
The witnesses testified before the House Judiciary Committee during a remote hearing in downtown Manhattan intended to scrutinize the soaring crime rate in the city. GOP lawmakers also are criticizing Mr. Bragg, a Democrat, for prosecuting former President Donald Trump for alleged business fraud while they say violent crime is out of control.
The hearing spearheaded by Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, Ohio Republican, is being held amid scrutinizing Mr. Bragg, a Democratic D.A., and his prosecution of Mr. Trump.
“In this country, justice is supposed to be blind, regardless of race, religion or creed. However, here in Manhattan, scales of justice are weighed down by politics,” Mr. Jordan said during his opening remarks. “For the district attorney, justice isn’t blind. It’s about looking for opportunities to advance a political agenda, a radical political agenda.”
He asserted, “Rather than enforcing the law, the DA is using his office to do the bidding of left-wing campaign funders. He’s taken his soft-on-crime approach to the real criminals.”
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, New York Democrat, said Mr. Jordan was just playing defense for Mr. Trump, as the former president faces 34 felony charges from Mr.
