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Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg justified his unprecedented prosecution of Donald Trump Tuesday as part of his “solemn responsibility” to uphold accountability in the “business capital of the world.”
“We regularly bring cases involving false business statements,” Bragg told reporters shortly after the former president, 76, was arraigned on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made ahead of the 2016 election.
“The bedrock of the basis for business integrity and a well-functioning business marketplace is true and accurate record-keeping.”
Bragg was flanked by a sign that said the Manhattan DA’s Office has filed 168 counts of felony falsified business records between 2019-2021 — and that since he took over as the borough’s top prosecutor in early 2021, he’s filed 117 of the felony counts.
The indictment brought by Bragg — the first ever against a president or former president — is built on an alleged “catch and kill” scheme Trump is accused of orchestrating through shady payments and bogus business entries filed by the Trump Organization.
“At its core this case today — along with allegations like so many of our white collar cases — are allegations someone lied again and again to protect their interests and evade the laws to which we are all held accountable,” Bragg said.
