A top Department of Justice spokesman was caught on camera criticizing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's prosecution of former President Donald Trump, calling the case "nonsense" and accusing Bragg of conducting "lawfare" for political gain.
Nicholas Biase, the chief spokesman for the Manhattan US Attorney's Office, was secretly recorded expressing his views on the Trump prosecution. According to the New York Post, conservative podcaster Steven Crowder released the footage on social media.
The recordings reportedly made on July 31 and August 14, 2024, show Biase in conversation with an unidentified woman at what appears to be a bar. In the footage, Biase, who claims to have known Bragg for 15 years and previously worked with him in the Southern District of New York, doesn't hold back in his criticism of the Manhattan DA's office.
Biase is heard saying, "Honestly, I think the case is nonsense." He goes on to accuse Bragg of "stacking charges" against Trump and rearranging facts to build a case, suggesting that the prosecution is more about political maneuvering than justice. The DOJ spokesman also speculates about Bragg's motivations, stating, "He wants to be, something ... a mayor? I'm not sure what he wants to be, but I know he's not happy just being the DA of New York County."
Biase's comments extend beyond criticism of Bragg to encompass broader concerns about the state-level justice system. He describes it as "the Wild West," contrasting it with federal-level procedures that prohibit decisions affecting elections within 90 days of voting.
The spokesman is particularly critical of the handling of Trump's case, predicting that the judge overseeing the trial, Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan, will attempt to imprison the former president. "This guy is probably going to try to lock him [Trump] up. And there is going to be, it's going to be ugly," Biase says in the recording.
He also comments on the impact of the prosecution on Trump's political future, noting that while the charges were intended to harm Trump's candidacy, they have instead made him "more relevant."
Following the release of the recordings, Biase issued an apology for his comments. In a statement to the New York Post, he expressed regret for his remarks, saying they were made in a private setting to someone he had just met and in an attempt to "impress" them.
Biase said, "I was recently made aware of a video where I regretfully made some statements in a private and social setting that don't reflect my views about two local and state prosecutions."
He added, "I said these things in an effort to please and impress someone I just met, who was secretly filming me. I'm deeply sorry to the local and state law enforcement officials working on these matters, who deserve more respect than I showed them. I should have known better."
The controversy surrounding Biase's comments extends beyond the Manhattan case. Referring to the New York civil fraud case, Biase claims, "Every real estate person in New York does what he [Trump] did. Nobody's ever been charged with this ... You know, it's a perversion of justice."
He is equally critical of the Georgia case, describing it as a "travesty of justice" and calling Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis "a joke." These comments from a high-ranking DOJ spokesman raise questions about the perception of these cases within legal circles and their potential impact on Trump's political future.
The revelation of Biase's comments adds a new dimension to the ongoing legal battles surrounding former President Trump. It highlights the contentious nature of these prosecutions and raises questions about their motivations and potential political implications. The incident also underscores the challenges of maintaining professional discretion in an era of ubiquitous recording devices and social media. As the legal proceedings against Trump continue to unfold, this controversy may influence public perception of the cases and the institutions involved in prosecuting them.
