Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, ripped into Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg during a hearing Monday.
Former President Donald Trump said Bragg, a Democrat, was motivated by politics when he charged the 45th president with 34 felonies last week — and Jordan demanded answers on Monday.
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Republicans were angered by Trump’s recent indictment and are trying to embarrass Bragg on his home turf.
The House Judiciary Committee, led by Jordan, held a field hearing Monday near Bragg’s offices to examine the Democrat’s “pro-crime, anti-victim” policies.
New York City has “lost its way when it comes to fighting crime and upholding the law,” Jordan said. “Here in Manhattan, the scales of justice are weighed down by politics. For the district attorney justice isn’t blind — it’s about advancing opportunities to promote a political agenda — a radical political agenda.”
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The House GOP released a campaign ad about the spiraling crime in New York City ever since Bragg’s “soft on crime” policies were implemented.
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Democrats said the hearing was a stunt aimed at amplifying conservative criticism of Bragg and pressed Republicans to instead focus on curbing the proliferation of guns. Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat and former police captain, called the hearing an “in-kind donation” to the Trump campaign.
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Interrupted several times by outbursts from protesters, Monday’s hearing was the latest salvo in Jordan’s weekslong effort to use his congressional powers to defend Trump from what he says is a politically motivated prosecution.
Jordan has sent letters to Bragg demanding testimony and documents, claiming Bragg’s office is subject to congressional scrutiny because it gets federal grants. He subpoenaed a former prosecutor, Mark Pomerantz, who previously oversaw the Trump investigation. Bragg then sued Jordan, calling the subpoena a “transparent campaign to intimidate” him.
The House Judiciary Committee didn’t invite Bragg to testify, nor was anyone from his office expected to participate. Instead, the committee heard from crime victims, the head of the city’s detectives union, the head of an anti-gun violence group, and a crime policy expert.
Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana said the committee is considering holding field hearings on crime in other places and “has about five or six cities on the list,” though none have been scheduled.
Jose Alba, a former convenience store clerk, testified about his arrest after stabbing an attacker to death in his shop. Bragg dropped the charges but critics said he should have done so sooner.
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Madeline Brame blamed Bragg for seeking long prison sentences only for two of four people involved in her son’s killing. Jennifer Harrison — whose boyfriend was killed in New Jersey in 2005 — spoke as a victim advocate and Bragg critic.
The Horn editorial team and the Associated Press contributed to this article