In the wake of an investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg that resulted in an indictment against former President Donald Trump, an array of Republicans — including Trump himself — have denounced the charges as politically motivated.
Earlier this week, one GOP lawmaker sought to take action against Bragg and his office.
The first of two bills introduced on Thursday by U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) calls for the district attorney’s office to lose its federal funding and return any funds it received after the beginning of last year.
The Accountability for Lawless Violence In Our Neighborhoods Act — or the ALVIN Act — attracted support from several fellow House Republicans, including Reps. Eli Crane and Paul Gosar, both of whom also represent Arizona, Mary Miller of Illinois, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, and Bob Good of Virginia.
Biggs expressed his belief that Bragg is wasting “federal resources for political purposes rather than addressing the serious crime in his city.”
As a result of the district attorney’s “disturbing” actions, Biggs determined that legislative action is appropriate.
“This weaponized prosecutor’s office has spent thousands of federal taxpayer dollars to subsidize this political indictment and is demanding millions more in federal grants,” he said.
The Arizona Republican introduced a second bill on the same day aimed at preventing the use of property seized through asset forfeiture to be used by local or state authorities to fund a criminal investigation of the president, vice president, or a presidential candidate.
Biggs has been a vocal critic of Bragg’s tenuous case against Trump, noting that the district attorney campaigned on a promise to go after the former president.
“Bragg took the unprecedented action of converting alleged minor business misdemeanors to 34 individual felonies in an attempt to put President Trump behind bars and humiliate him and his supporters.”
Latest Manhattan Crime Headlines:
“Suspect sought after 17-year-old shot and injured in Manhattan.”
“Police investigating after shots fired in Hell’s Kitchen.”
“Man shot in the head in East Harlem.”
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) April 12, 2023
In response to news that he would be facing nearly three dozen criminal charges, Trump asserted that Bragg should be the one under investigation.
Writing on Truth Social, the former president declared: “Wow! District Attorney Bragg just illegally LEAKED the various points, and complete information, on the pathetic Indictment against me. I know the reporter and so, unfortunately, does he. This means that he MUST BE IMMEDIATELY INDICTED. Now, if he wants to really clean up his reputation, he will do the honorable thing and, as District Attorney, INDICT HIMSELF.”
