House Republicans have delayed a scheduled hearing with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg due to changes in former President Trump’s sentencing date.
According to The Hill, the hearing was initially planned following Trump's July 11 sentencing but is now deferred to after the new September 18 date.
The House Judiciary Committee’s select subcommittee on the weaponization of government had set the hearing to take place this coming Friday. With Trump's sentencing initially lined up for July 11, the plans were altered when the sentencing was postponed until September 18.
Former President Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. These charges stem from a 2016 hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The delayed sentencing has consequently pushed back the planned hearing with District Attorney Bragg.
Another prosecutor involved in the case, Matthew Colangelo, was also slated to appear. The House Republicans’ postponement decision leaves the hearing without a rescheduled date at this time. The committee’s decision underscores the delicate balancing act involved with Trump's ongoing legal processes.
Bragg’s office had earlier released a statement condemning misinformation and expressing the significance of the rule of law. “The Manhattan D.A.’s Office is proud to play a crucial role in upholding and enforcing the rule of law for the people of New York. It undermines the rule of law to spread dangerous misinformation, baseless claims, and conspiracy theories following the jury’s return of a full-count felony conviction in People v. Trump,” Bragg’s office stated last month.
Although Bragg initially resisted appearing before the committee, he is now expected to participate. Bragg’s commitment is following the conclusion of Trump’s trial and the subsequent sentencing process.
Trump’s legal team is challenging the conviction based on a recent Supreme Court ruling concerning presidential immunity. This challenge includes arguments that some of the trial evidence should be excluded under the standards set by the court.
The hearing's postponement is directly tied to these developments. With Trump’s legal maneuvers and the associated procedural delays, rescheduling before the sentencing is unlikely.
The hearing, focused on alleged government weaponization, will include critical testimony once it's eventually rescheduled. House Republicans and the public will be closely watching these unfolding events.
The decision to delay was made to align with the adjusted timeline of Trump’s legal proceedings. Alvin Bragg’s appearance before the committee now hinges on the end of Trump’s sentencing saga.
House Republicans continue to navigate the implications of Trump’s high-profile case. The push to ensure proper legal processes underscores the complexities revealed through this unprecedented scenario.
In summary, House Republicans postponed a planned hearing with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg owing to a delay in Trump’s sentencing. Initially set for a Friday following Trump's July 11 sentencing, the hearing is now postponed due to the new sentencing date of September 18. Trump, who faces 34 felony counts related to a hush money payment in 2016, is appealing his conviction based on a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, delaying the hearing until post-sentencing.
