Manhattan DA's office issues scathing response to House GOP's request for testimony

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office on Thursday sent a scathing response to House Republican leaders who asked for documents and testimony about the prosecutor's possible indictment of former President Trump.

Bragg will or has made his decision to indict based on a New York grand investigating Trump having given hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Bragg's general counsel, Leslie Dubeckl said in a letter to GOP Reps. and committee Chairmen Jim Jordan, Bryan Steil and James Comer that their request for information is an "unprecedented[ed] inquiry into a pending local prosecution" and that Trump said he expects to be arrested is not "a legitimate basis for a congressional inquiry."

While the district attorney's office asked whether it could meet with committee staffers to understand what information it could provide, Dubeck said full compliance with the Republicans' request could pose problems. 

If the prosecutor complies with the House committee chairs' letter sent earlier this week, it would "interfere" with the police investigation or result in the disclosure of confidential information and it would violate New York's sovereignty, Dubeck also said. 

"Congress has no role to play in that review, especially as to a pending state criminal proceeding," Dubeck additionally wrote. The general counsel's concluding argument is that the use of federal public safety funds in Bragg's probe is not a sufficient argument to justify the lawmakers' request. 

"Alvin Bragg should focus on prosecuting actual criminals in New York City rather than harassing a political opponent in another state," House Judiciary Committee Republicans tweeted after receiving the letter.