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(CNN) Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office has accused House Republicans of launching an “unprecedented investigation into pending local indictments” and accused former President Donald Trump of committing an adult film during his 2016 campaign. He defended an investigation into an alleged hush-up payment to an actress.
In a new letter to Republican lawmakers seeking information about the investigation earlier this week, District Attorney’s Office general counsel Leslie Dabek said to leaders of Republican House committees that “the legitimacy of the congressional investigation is not justified.” “There is a lack of evidence,” she pointed out. Their request for information “was only made after they reportedly created false expectations that Donald Trump would be arrested the next day and his lawyers urged you to intervene.”
Dubec called the Republican claim that the investigation was politically motivated “unfounded.”
“In any event, the appropriate forum for such objections is the courts of New York, which have the capacity to consider and reconsider such objections,” she added.
She asked the committee to meet and consult with Bragg’s office to determine whether it had a “legitimate legislative” purpose for what the House was seeking, and to ensure that those records were kept without prejudice to New York’s sovereignty. I requested that we discuss whether it would be possible to overturn the
An earlier letter requesting information about the Bragg investigation was sent on Monday by House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, and House Executive Committee Chairman Brian Steyle, alleging hush money against Trump. criticized the investigation as “unprecedented abuse of the prosecutor’s office.”
“We are reviewing the letter,” Jordan told CNN when asked for a response to a letter from the Manhattan Attorney General. I repeated my answer.
Comer told CNN, “The law enforcement agency [committee] One is leading this when asked about the Manhattan DA office’s response to the initial request from Congress.
Mr. Kummer explained that his committee has a large staff and ample resources to help the House Judiciary Committee “get information.”
Dubeck’s five-page response to the Republican request, which includes documents and communications related to Bragg’s testimony and investigation, addresses why the Republican request constitutes an “unlawful violation of New York’s sovereignty.” Citing case law and legal arguments. .”
She said the 10th Amendment to the Constitution limits the federal government’s authority over local law enforcement, and argued that Congress is not an executive branch specifically with law enforcement powers.
Pointing to the law protecting grand jury secrecy, she said House Republicans “seek nonpublic information about pending criminal investigations, which are confidential under state law,” and therefore the Commission law enforcement agencies to comply with the Board’s requests.
Dubeck also ridiculed Republicans’ claim that testimony and requested documents from Bragg were required as part of a congressional review of the Federal Public Safety Fund.
“The letter does not suggest how either the district attorney’s testimony regarding his decision to prosecute, or the former assistant district attorney’s documents and correspondence regarding the pending criminal investigation will shed light on that review,” Dubec said.
However, she said, “Nevertheless, I plan to prepare and file a letter explaining the use of federal funds to help Congress understand how the DA’s office has used federal funds.” added.
CNN has reached out to the three House committees concerned for comment.
This story has been updated with additional information.
CNN’s Manu Raju contributed.
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