Tension at House Judiciary Committee hearing on Bragg's policies

The House Judiciary Committee held its hearing Monday with victims of violent crime in Manhattan. This is the first part of an evaluation of the work of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The proceedings gave voice to several families considered to be affected by DA Bragg's anti-crime policies.

The House committee, chaired by Republican Tim Jordan, blasted Bragg's work as "pro-crime and anti-victim," and said it has led to a "rise in violent crime and a dangerous community for New Yorkers." Bragg filed a lawsuit against Jordan after the committee's intention to examine his work was announced.

Alvin Bragg, who charged former President Donald Trump with 34 counts related to financial crimes, did not participate in the arraignment. Bragg also declined to comment when he arrived at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office building, where the arraignment was held. The Democratic Party totally rejects the relevance of the hearing organized by the Judiciary Committee, considering it an attempt to intimidate Prosecutor Bragg. "Don't be fooled, this is not a serious exercise. It's a political stunt," said New York Democratic Representative Jerry Nadler at a press conference with Eric Adams, the city's Democratic mayor.

Victims of violent crime

Critics of D.A. Bragg's policies believe that his approach to crime in Manhattan is too lax with serious crimes, which end up being charged as misdemeanors, and thus their perpetrators face lowered penalties. During the hearing for victims of violent crime in Manhattan, the high rates of recidivism that characterize criminals in the borough were also highlighted.

Madeline Brame, president of the Council for Victims' Rights Reform and mother of a homicide victim, provided testimony at the hearing. She accused prosecutor Bragg of reducing the sentences of those guilty of her son's death and allowing them back on the streets. Along with Brame, seven other victims of Bragg's policies gave their testimonies and answered the committee's questions. Among them was José Alba, a grocer against whom Bragg filed murder charges after he defended himself during a robbery of his store.

Moments of tension

A moment of tension erupted after the more than four-hour hearing when Georgia Democratic Representative Hank Johnson took the floor. The Democratic representative, who is against holding the hearing, called the witnesses "props in a Broadway production of MAGA." According to Johnson, if members of the House Judiciary Committee wanted to fight crime, they should focus on gun laws and not on Prosecutor Bragg. "Instead, like thugs in tall boots, they have descended upon New York City, using violent crime as a pretext."